The House of Representatives’ recent approval of a domestic policy package that includes severe cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) marks a deeply troubling shift in American priorities.

SNAP, once known as food stamps, has long been a critical lifeline for low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and working individuals who simply can’t make ends meet. The program has always received bipartisan support—until now. For decades, the federal government has fully funded SNAP benefits, ensuring that Americans in need could access food without burdening state and local governments.

This latest bill not only slashes federal support but fundamentally changes the structure of the program. For the first time in SNAP’s history, states will be forced to pay for a portion of the benefits. In New York alone, this will amount to a staggering $1.2 billion per year beginning as early as October 2027. It also cuts the federal share of administrative costs in half, adding another $204 million in new annual expenses for the state and local governments.

Governor Kathy Hochul has sounded the alarm: More than 300,000 households across New York are projected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits due to new, more restrictive requirements. That’s nearly a million people in our state alone—many of them children—who will face greater food insecurity because of this decision.

Supporters of the cuts argue that SNAP discourages work and is poorly managed. But the reality is that the vast majority of recipients are already working, caring for family members, or physically unable to work due to age or disability. The program’s eligibility requirements are already strict, based on federal poverty thresholds that reflect the bare minimum needed to survive. In 2025, that’s just $15,060 a year for an individual—hardly enough to live on, let alone thrive.

Beyond the human toll, these cuts will also inflict economic damage. Nearly three million New Yorkers rely on SNAP to help purchase groceries from more than 18,000 retailers across the state, including more than 400 local farmers markets and farm stands. A loss of SNAP dollars means lost sales for small businesses and agricultural producers, compounding the financial strain already felt in many communities.

This is not just a social issue—it is a moral one. A nation as wealthy as ours should not be balancing its books on the backs of the hungry. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, and when families are already making impossible choices between food, housing, and healthcare, slashing SNAP is both cruel and short-sighted.

Congress must reconsider this ill-conceived legislation. If we truly believe in supporting hard-working Americans and strengthening our local economies, then protecting—and fully funding—SNAP should be non-negotiable.