The massive tax and spending bill passed by U.S. House Republicans would likely result in millions of people losing food assistance benefits, and saddle states with around $14 billion a year in costs, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Republicans are primarily achieving SNAP cuts by implementing strict work requirements on, among others, single parents and aging adults, which would result in 3.2 million people losing access to the program in an average month, the CBO report said.
Republicans want to use the budget bill to extend Trump’s 2017 tax legislation. The bill would also increase spending on border security and defense by hundreds of billions of dollars. Several estimates project that the legislation will add over $3 trillion to the national deficit, partly due to its tax breaks, which disproportionately benefit the ultra-wealthy.
Starting in 2028, states would be responsible for paying 5% to 25% of SNAP benefits, with a state’s share rising with its payment error rate. The federal government currently pays for all SNAP benefits.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein wrote about SNAP’s impact on the state, warning about the harm that could be caused by losing federal SNAP dollars:
- SNAP benefits help 1.4 million North Carolinians put food on the table.
- SNAP contributes nearly $2.8 billion to North Carolina’s economy, and has a multiplier effect, with every $1 invested in SNAP benefits generating between $1.50 and $1.80 for local economies.
- SNAP cuts would mean people have less to spend at North Carolina’s 9,200+ SNAP retailers, which would hurt farmers and local economies, especially in rural areas and small towns.
- SNAP is playing a vital role in supporting North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene. The state’s 25 western counties, most impacted by Hurricane Helene, still have higher enrollment in SNAP in April 2025 than they did in September 2024 before the storm hit.
The House vote Thursday sent the measure to the Senate. Republicans who hold control in that chamber are planning to employ the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to skirt the Senate’s usual 60-vote requirement for legislation.
“If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services?” Gov. Stein wrote. “I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.”
