Federal SNAP Cuts Shift Costs to States, Risk Millions Losing Benefits

President Donald Trump's 2025 legislative package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacts significant reductions and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including a projected $186 billion cut in spending through 2034 and expanded work requirements that could result in approximately 3 million people losing benefits. The law shifts more financial responsibility to states, requiring them to cover part of the cost if their error rates on benefit payments exceed 6%, a threshold many states currently surpass, including Pennsylvania and Minnesota. This cost shift places substantial strain on state and local governments, potentially leading to reduced benefits and increased property taxes, as counties often administer SNAP programs and face funding shortfalls due to cuts in federal reimbursement for administrative costs. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the new rules as burdensome and hypocritical, especially with carve-outs allowing some states to delay payments, while Republicans argue the changes target waste and fraud in the system. The changes risk reducing access to food assistance for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Despite initial disruptions like the SNAP benefit delays in Guam, officials are working to resolve technical issues and advise beneficiaries to check their balances.