On Wednesday evening, the House Agriculture Committee approved budget reconciliation language that slashes over $290 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The changes proposed in this bill would devastate SNAP benefits, erode the social safety net, and destabilize our state’s economy.

SNAP, the nation’s largest federal nutrition assistance program, currently supports over 1.2 million Washington residents, specifically children and seniors. Last year in Washington, 34.2% of SNAP recipients were minors and 22.2% were seniors; the demolition of SNAP will trigger wide-reaching consequences for vulnerable populations in local communities across the country and our state.

The average SNAP recipient receives about $3.50 per meal daily, totaling roughly $322 monthly. If the proposed changes move forward, state officials warn that the decreased access to food could be devastating.

Major Cost Shifts to States

A key provision in the proposal would restructure SNAP by requiring states to share in the cost of benefits. For Washington, this could mean an additional $390 million annually—a burden the state may not be able to bear, especially as it faces a projected $12 billion to $16 billion deficit over the next four years.

Administrative costs would also increase, with Washington’s share rising from 50% to 75%, adding another $42 million in expenses each year.

“SNAP is a critical part of our country’s food safety net,” said Sara Seelmeyer, the associate director of ending poverty at United Way of King County. “If these cuts move forward, more Washingtonians will face hunger and will be forced to make impossible decisions between paying the rent, keeping the lights on, and putting food on the table.”

New Work Requirements for Parents

For the first time, the proposal would impose work requirements on adults with children ages 7 and older. Under current law, adults with children under 18 are exempt from work mandates. The new rule would require parents to work at least 20 hours per week to maintain SNAP benefits.

This change could affect more than 75,000 Washingtonians.

Critics argue the requirement won’t increase employment and could instead create additional barriers to accessing food.

This would be the first time in federal law that a “dependent child” is not defined as a child under age 18 – and means that school-aged children will be unfairly punished for their parents’ inability to find stable employment.

Cuts to Refugee and Asylee Support

The proposal also eliminates SNAP eligibility for refugees and asylees, who are currently able to access benefits immediately upon arrival in the U.S. Advocates warn that removing this support from some of the country’s most vulnerable populations would leave them without the basic resources needed to begin rebuilding their lives.

Refugees often arrive with no resources, and SNAP gives them the breathing room to focus on stable employment and housing.

Elsa Young, food security impact manager at United Way of King County, said the proposal is both harmful and shortsighted.

“In addition to the immediate harm to families, this proposal doesn’t make economic sense,” said Young. “In periods of economic downturn, states will have less revenue, forcing them to make deeper cuts to SNAP benefits. This means families will receive less money to invest in the local economy, furthering the downward trend.”

“It’s a vicious spiral where nobody wins,” Young continued.

What’s Next

Local leaders are urging constituents to contact federal lawmakers and oppose the cuts. Advocates stress that reducing SNAP funding would undermine the program’s role as an economic stabilizer, especially now, as federal cuts become more widespread.

Our state cannot afford these cuts. Neither can our neighbors.

Please consider giving to Our Neighbor Fund, United Way of King County’s general fund to keep food on our neighbors’ tables and a roof over their heads.