Katie Bergh
@katiebergh.bsky.social
SNAP/WIC/Child Nutrition at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Come for the corgi pictures, stay for the food assistance policy.
Pinned
Katie Bergh
@katiebergh.bsky.social
· Aug 13
By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The harmful Republican megabill, enacted on July 4, will dramatically raise costs and reduce food assistance for millions of people by cutting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
www.cbpp.org
We've updated our analysis of the Republican megabill's #SNAP cuts based on new info from CBO this week.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
In the U.S., hunger is often hidden away. It looks nothing like the stereotype of a famine happening overseas. But the physical impacts on health and the psychological scars can last a lifetime. n.pr/4skvoKV
In the U.S., hunger is often hidden. But it can still leave scars on body and mind
In the U.S., hunger is often hidden away. It looks nothing like the stereotype of a famine happening overseas. But the physical impacts on health and the psychological scars can last a lifetime.
n.pr
January 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
In the U.S., hunger is often hidden away. It looks nothing like the stereotype of a famine happening overseas. But the physical impacts on health and the psychological scars can last a lifetime. n.pr/4skvoKV
Millions of low-income families going without the SNAP benefits they needed to afford groceries during the government shutdown was a preview of what's coming under the Republican megabill—which could end SNAP altogether in some states:
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Millions of low-income families going without the SNAP benefits they needed to afford groceries during the government shutdown was a preview of what's coming under the Republican megabill—which could end SNAP altogether in some states:
Worth mentioning: USDA's position is that these SNAP eligibility restrictions were effective the day the law was enacted, July 4. But USDA didn't issue any implementation guidance to states until October 31. They didn't clarify aspects of that initial guidance until *this week.*
The harmful Republican megabill cuts health coverage, food assistance, and tax credits for immigrants with lawful status and their families, narrowing eligibility for programs such as the #ChildTaxCredit, #SNAP, #Medicaid, and #ACA marketplace coverage. www.cbpp.org/research/imm...
Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Away Health Coverage, Food Assistance, Tax Credits From Millions of Immigrants and Their Families
The harmful Republican megabill imposes massive cuts in food assistance, health coverage, and other supports for people with low incomes and singles out immigrants with lawful status and their familie...
www.cbpp.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Worth mentioning: USDA's position is that these SNAP eligibility restrictions were effective the day the law was enacted, July 4. But USDA didn't issue any implementation guidance to states until October 31. They didn't clarify aspects of that initial guidance until *this week.*
I'm going to hazard a guess that adding an unprecedentedly chaotic & disruptive government shutdown to the mix did not help states reduce errors
How to make SNAP errors more likely:
1️⃣Pass a law adding a bunch of complex red tape to SNAP
2️⃣Make those changes go into effect immediately
3️⃣Provide no details about how states should implement those changes for months
4️⃣Then cut federal funding for states' admin costs in half
1️⃣Pass a law adding a bunch of complex red tape to SNAP
2️⃣Make those changes go into effect immediately
3️⃣Provide no details about how states should implement those changes for months
4️⃣Then cut federal funding for states' admin costs in half
At the same time, states are also facing the megabill's huge unfunded mandate for SNAP costs, which is based on how many errors states make in their SNAP programs. But errors will now be far more likely as states rush to roll out these complex policies on an unrealistic timeline.
December 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I'm going to hazard a guess that adding an unprecedentedly chaotic & disruptive government shutdown to the mix did not help states reduce errors
I don't think the public has fully grasped that the Republican megabill means that SNAP could end altogether in some states - or the extent to which the Administration is setting states up to fail, spiking the costs they'll face & making deep cuts to food assistance more likely.
NEW: The recent government shutdown, with families skipping meals and babies unfed, could have been a preview of what’s to come when Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill shifts billions in costs for the SNAP program to states that may not be able to afford them.
How State Tax Cuts Could Lead to a SNAP Crisis
President Donald Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act will shift billions in costs for SNAP and Medicaid to states. But with 26 having cut or eliminated state income taxes just since 2021, they may not have the money to continue the programs.
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I don't think the public has fully grasped that the Republican megabill means that SNAP could end altogether in some states - or the extent to which the Administration is setting states up to fail, spiking the costs they'll face & making deep cuts to food assistance more likely.
States' administrative funding isn't the only thing at stake here. USDA is trying to amass the highly sensitive personal information of tens of millions of low-income people in a centralized database described by one former USDA official as "a prime target for malicious actors."
The Trump administration plans to block Democratic-controlled states from accessing billions of dollars they need to run their food stamp programs unless governors turn over benefits rolls to federal officials.
Trump administration will block SNAP management funds for blue states
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said officials won’t send money to administer food stamps to states that don’t share information about benefits recipients with the federal government.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
States' administrative funding isn't the only thing at stake here. USDA is trying to amass the highly sensitive personal information of tens of millions of low-income people in a centralized database described by one former USDA official as "a prime target for malicious actors."
Monthly SNAP costs when Joe Biden became President in January 2021: $8.68 billion.
Monthly SNAP costs when his term ended in January 2025: $7.97 billion.
I don't think you need to whip out a calculator to figure out that's not a 40% increase.
Monthly SNAP costs when his term ended in January 2025: $7.97 billion.
I don't think you need to whip out a calculator to figure out that's not a 40% increase.
Rollins: Joe Biden increased food stamp program funding by 40%. Now… we continue to roll that back… Just gratitude and joy for this work. So, so grateful to you.
December 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Monthly SNAP costs when Joe Biden became President in January 2021: $8.68 billion.
Monthly SNAP costs when his term ended in January 2025: $7.97 billion.
I don't think you need to whip out a calculator to figure out that's not a 40% increase.
Monthly SNAP costs when his term ended in January 2025: $7.97 billion.
I don't think you need to whip out a calculator to figure out that's not a 40% increase.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
The Trump Admin’s move to rescind the Biden-era public charge rule will cause fear and confusion among immigrants and their families, leading many to forgo needed health care, food, or other support out of concern it could affect their immigration status. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Trump Administration’s Move to Rescind Public Charge Rule Will Cause Fear, Confusion for Immigrants
November 19, 2025: The Trump Administration has moved to rescind the Biden Administration’s public charge rule, reigniting fear and confusion among people who are immigrants and their families. The pr...
www.cbpp.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The Trump Admin’s move to rescind the Biden-era public charge rule will cause fear and confusion among immigrants and their families, leading many to forgo needed health care, food, or other support out of concern it could affect their immigration status. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
A tragedy in 3 parts:
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A tragedy in 3 parts:
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Penalizing poor families for having a car or having minimal savings is pretty bad policy.
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
November 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Penalizing poor families for having a car or having minimal savings is pretty bad policy.
SNAP's status post-shutdown from @tyjonescox.bsky.social:
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
Taking Away Food Assistance Puts the Trump Administration on the Wrong Side of History
The Trump Administration became so determined to deny people their SNAP benefits that it fought all the way to the Supreme Court, even though the funds were available and it had the legal authority to...
www.cbpp.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
SNAP's status post-shutdown from @tyjonescox.bsky.social:
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
On Friday, USDA reiterated that states were required to implement many of the megabill's SNAP cuts—major changes impacting millions of people—on the day it became law, with a grace period that ended 11/1. States won't get more time before they start being penalized for errors.
November 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
On Friday, USDA reiterated that states were required to implement many of the megabill's SNAP cuts—major changes impacting millions of people—on the day it became law, with a grace period that ended 11/1. States won't get more time before they start being penalized for errors.
Aside from the fact that SNAP participants already have to periodically recertify for benefits — usually every 6 or 12 months — SNAP rules also prohibit states from arbitrarily shortening a household's certification period to force them to reapply early.
The Trump admin to require millions of low-income people to reapply for food stamps as part of an effort to crack down on “fraud," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
The move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and get rid of “fraud.”
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Aside from the fact that SNAP participants already have to periodically recertify for benefits — usually every 6 or 12 months — SNAP rules also prohibit states from arbitrarily shortening a household's certification period to force them to reapply early.
As the shutdown ends, the Republican megabill’s #SNAP cuts — the deepest cuts to food assistance in history — are starting to go into effect.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
We've updated our analysis of the Republican megabill's #SNAP cuts based on new info from CBO this week.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The harmful Republican megabill, enacted on July 4, will dramatically raise costs and reduce food assistance for millions of people by cutting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
www.cbpp.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
As the shutdown ends, the Republican megabill’s #SNAP cuts — the deepest cuts to food assistance in history — are starting to go into effect.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
As one federal judge noted today, the Trump Administration's approach to SNAP during the shutdown "repeatedly shifted the goalposts for States, each time requiring States to rely on incorrect information not in accordance with the law."
That just about sums it up.
That just about sums it up.
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
As one federal judge noted today, the Trump Administration's approach to SNAP during the shutdown "repeatedly shifted the goalposts for States, each time requiring States to rely on incorrect information not in accordance with the law."
That just about sums it up.
That just about sums it up.
Food assistance for low-income veterans isn't only at risk because of the shutdown. The Republican megabill's SNAP cuts specifically targeted veterans by eliminating their previous exemption from SNAP's harsh three-month time limit.
This Veterans Day, 1.2 million U.S. veterans who count on SNAP to afford food have been harmed, as the Trump Admin has been withholding benefits during the shutdown and the harmful Republican megabill's deep cuts mean many people will lose SNAP altogether.
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Food assistance for low-income veterans isn't only at risk because of the shutdown. The Republican megabill's SNAP cuts specifically targeted veterans by eliminating their previous exemption from SNAP's harsh three-month time limit.
“Most egregious has been the Administration’s relentless effort to keep people from getting help affording food, leaving millions of people to go hungry for perceived political gain, even as the Administration admitted in court they had the resources and authority to provide assistance.”
@sharonparrott.bsky.social lifts up 2 key issues that remain unaddressed as the Senate considers bills to end the shutdown: the looming spike in health care costs for 20M ppl & the need for guardrails to stop the President from undoing parts of bipartisan funding laws www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
Beyond the Shutdown: Country Needs Congress and President to Address Health Care Cost Spikes and Rule of Law
Two fundamental issues remain unaddressed, and Congress needs to tackle them without delay.
www.cbpp.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
“Most egregious has been the Administration’s relentless effort to keep people from getting help affording food, leaving millions of people to go hungry for perceived political gain, even as the Administration admitted in court they had the resources and authority to provide assistance.”
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
November 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Update: USDA revised their #SNAP contingency fund plan to provide households with a larger share of their November benefits. This is an important but inadequate step. Families need their full benefits to afford groceries & the Administration has the authority to provide them.
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Update: USDA revised their #SNAP contingency fund plan to provide households with a larger share of their November benefits. This is an important but inadequate step. Families need their full benefits to afford groceries & the Administration has the authority to provide them.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Low-income families will see even deeper #SNAP cuts because the Administration plans to release only two-thirds of the funds it says are available, shortchanging millions who rely on benefits to afford food. More from @katiebergh.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/blog/adminis...
Administration Won’t Spend All SNAP Funds It Says Are Available, Leading to Deep Benefit Cuts for Low-Income Households
The Trump Administration is only planning to release two-thirds of the SNAP funding it committed to spend to partially cover November benefits, cutting families’ benefits far more than necessary and s...
www.cbpp.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Low-income families will see even deeper #SNAP cuts because the Administration plans to release only two-thirds of the funds it says are available, shortchanging millions who rely on benefits to afford food. More from @katiebergh.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/blog/adminis...
If SNAP math is hurting your brain today, this is shows why USDA's 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits translates into a much deeper cut to average benefits.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
So the range of outcomes is
- 50 percent of benefits
- less than 50 percent of benefits
- no benefits at all
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
- 50 percent of benefits
- less than 50 percent of benefits
- no benefits at all
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
If SNAP math is hurting your brain today, this is shows why USDA's 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits translates into a much deeper cut to average benefits.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.