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Trump administration won't tap emergency funds to pay food aid

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, October 24th 2025 at 16:58 GMT by Politico
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SNAP’s Future in Question as USDA Pushes for Major Policy Overhaul

A recent proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) threatens to fundamentally change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest food‑assistance initiative. The policy, announced on Tuesday, would effectively terminate SNAP’s current structure, sparking intense debate among policymakers, advocacy groups, and the millions of Americans who rely on the program for grocery staples.

What the USDA Proposal Entails

Under the new plan, the USDA would phase out the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards that allow recipients to purchase food at supermarkets. Instead, the agency proposes a “cash‑only” benefit system that would deliver weekly or monthly checks directly to households. The agency’s justification centers on a claim that the current EBT system is costly, fraught with fraud, and “misaligned” with modern food‑shopping habits.

The proposal also seeks to reduce the overall federal subsidy for SNAP by 12 percent over the next decade. The USDA cites budgetary constraints and a desire to encourage more private-sector participation in food distribution. A key feature of the plan is the creation of a “food‑access marketplace” that would enable recipients to purchase groceries from a broader network of vendors, including small, local markets that are currently excluded.

Political Fallout and Congressional Response

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) called the plan “a dangerous step backward that would jeopardize the food security of millions.” He warned that the shift could lead to a “cascade of failures” for low‑income families, citing data that 71 million Americans depend on SNAP for at least a portion of their grocery budget.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R‑CA) echoed similar concerns, stating that the policy would “unfairly penalize those who are already struggling” and could increase food‑borne illness rates by pushing families toward less regulated markets. Both leaders have called for an emergency hearing to evaluate the proposal’s potential socioeconomic impacts.

Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a preliminary analysis suggesting that the cutbacks could reduce SNAP’s funding by roughly $10 billion over the next ten years. The CBO noted that this would translate into a net loss of $4.5 billion in direct benefits to recipients. The agency’s own cost‑saving estimates, however, projected a $12 billion reduction in administrative expenses.

Advocacy Groups Weigh In

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a nonprofit research organization that tracks food‑security trends, released a policy brief on the proposal’s potential consequences. According to CBPP’s analysis, eliminating EBT would disproportionately affect households with limited financial literacy and access to banking services. The brief notes that 27 percent of SNAP participants live in counties with fewer than two grocery stores per 10,000 residents—areas where cash‑only systems could create logistical hurdles.

In addition, the National Foodbank Network warned that a shift away from the EBT model could disrupt the existing partnership between food banks and the federal program. The network cited a 2023 study indicating that 60 percent of food banks rely on SNAP funding to purchase bulk supplies. A change in benefit delivery could, they argued, cause a shortfall in food distribution capacity during peak demand periods.

Additional Context from Related Resources

To better understand the potential ramifications, the USDA’s official SNAP page (https://www.usda.gov/snap) provides a comprehensive overview of the program’s history, eligibility criteria, and administrative framework. The page highlights that SNAP benefits are designed to be portable, allowing recipients to shop across any retail outlet that accepts EBT. It also underscores that the program is co‑funded by federal, state, and local governments, and that state-level administrative costs are typically borne by the USDA.

The linked policy brief from CBPP (https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-reform-proposal-pros-and-cons) expands on the financial and social implications of the proposed changes. The brief includes a detailed cost‑benefit analysis, projecting that the savings from reduced administrative costs would be outweighed by increased private‑sector costs and the social costs associated with reduced food security.

The Broader Food‑Security Landscape

The debate over SNAP’s future sits within a larger national conversation about food security and federal assistance. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued new guidelines on food labeling, while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an expansion of the “Health‑Fit” nutrition program, which offers cash incentives for purchasing fruits and vegetables. Together, these initiatives underscore a growing push toward healthier eating habits, but also highlight the fragility of the current support infrastructure.

As the policy discussion unfolds, the USDA has agreed to hold a series of public hearings in the coming weeks. Stakeholders, including representatives from the National Council on Aging and the Food Marketing Institute, will have the opportunity to present evidence and data. Meanwhile, state SNAP administrators are working to assess how the potential changes could affect their operations and local supply chains.

What’s at Stake

At its core, the proposal threatens to shift the way millions of Americans access nutritious food. The debate pits fiscal efficiency against social responsibility, raising questions about the role of federal programs in mitigating poverty. If the USDA’s plan proceeds, it could redefine the balance between government oversight and private market freedom in the realm of food assistance—an outcome that will reverberate across the country for years to come.