Congressional Republicans’ proposal to push SNAP food costs to states would put 172,200 children, older Mainers, and Mainers with disabilities at risk of hunger
AUGUSTA — 172,200 people in Maine who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be at risk of going hungry if Congressional Republicans move forward with a plan to cut $230 billion or more from the program over nearly 10 years. The specific details of the cuts are not public yet, but some Republican leaders are calling for states to be required to pay a portion of Mainers’ SNAP food benefits for the first time. Congress should reject this proposal and protect SNAP from harmful budget cuts.
To address this federal cut to SNAP food benefits, Maine would need to raise revenue, cut funding for other state-funded programs and services, cut SNAP benefit levels, restrict program eligibility, or some combination of these — all options that would cost Maine more or hurt Mainers struggling with rising costs.
Republican leaders have not said how much they would force states to pay of SNAP food benefit costs. But if they create a new state match of 5% of SNAP benefits it would cost Maine about $18 million in 2026; a 25% match requirement would cost Maine $90 million, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. It would be the first time that the federal government did not fully fund the cost of food benefits.
Congressional Republicans are pushing deep federal spending cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other vital services to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Their tax cuts for households with incomes in the top 1 percent alone would cost roughly $1.1 trillion over 10 years.
“Forcing states and families already struggling with rising costs to absorb federal funding cuts for the sake of billionaire tax breaks is economically disastrous. It will weaken the economy, increase hunger, and strain state budgets,” said MECEP President & CEO Garrett Martin. “As state legislators negotiate to work key tax and spending priorities into a balanced budget for next fiscal year, even a small new SNAP matching requirement could be the difference between letting more children go hungry and funding other important public services, such as education and public safety.”
If states were required to match even 10% of SNAP benefit costs, it would be equivalent to 600 teacher’s salaries in Maine.
In Maine, more than 50% of participating families have children and more than 53% of participating families include seniors or adults with disabilities. Research shows SNAP reduces food insecurity and is linked to improved health, education, and economic outcomes and to lower medical costs for participants.
SNAP benefits are spent at around 1,500 grocery stores in Maine. Every $1 in additional spending on SNAP benefits in a weak economy generates $1.54 in economic activity when households use their benefits to shop at local businesses in their communities.
