- House Republicans are considering a $230 billion cut to the Agriculture Committee between 2025 and 2034, potentially impacting SNAP benefits.
- Democratic lawmakers warn of a 20% reduction in benefits, but Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson denies cuts, focusing on program integrity.
- The Biden administration’s 2021 SNAP benefit increase has drawn criticism from Republicans, with efforts to ensure the program excludes unhealthy foods.
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In the proposed House reconciliation bill, House Republicans are considering cutting $230 billion from the House Agriculture Committee between fiscal years 2025 and 2034. According to some lawmakers, this will affect recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP benefits are federal assistance provided to eligible low-income individuals and families to help them buy food.
According to the USDA, SNAP is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program. It accounts for about 68% of USDA nutrition assistance spending in fiscal year 2023.
During that same time, “SNAP served an average of 42.1 million participants per month. Federal SNAP spending totaled $112.8 billion, and benefits averaged $211.93 per participant per month.”
Democratic Representative Steve Cohen told Fox 13 Memphis the proposed budget cut to the Committee on Agriculture means Republican lawmakers are planning to cut SNAP benefits by 20%.
“This administration has been heartless and cruel,” he said.
However, Newsweek reports House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson clarified on Friday that he does not believe SNAP benefits will be reduced.
“We can achieve what we need to do by program integrity to make the program stronger and better serve people, and also making sure the states take some accountability with the program. So there are no cuts to benefits,” he said.
In 2021, the Biden administration implemented the largest increase in SNAP benefits by nearly 25% for all 42 million recipients.
It’s a move Republicans have criticized, and Trump is vowing to change it.
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the USDA would work with the Department of Government Efficiency and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the SNAP program is not spent on “sugary drinks” and other junk food.
