Updates

SNAP and the Farm Bill: What’s at Stake?

August 18, 2026

Published by: Nora Thomas

It’s a very busy time in the world of food policy as Congress works to finalize the farm bill. This year, the farm bill has the potential to make and lock in major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). During a time when food insecurity is on the rise and grocery costs for the average household continue to increase, it is critical to advocate for strong food access networks to be protected.

The farm bill is a big package of legislation that works to regulate and protect farmers, food access, and the environment. It covers everything from subsidies, insurance, grants, pesticide use, conservation, and agricultural research to food assistance programs. 

Legislators have struggled to pass a bill, and debates often center on food assistance. In fact, the farm bill is meant to be passed every 5 years, yet the most recent bill passed in 2018. Legislators now aim to pass a new farm bill by the end of 2026. 

In the meantime, however, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as H.R.1 or the budget reconciliation law, in June of 2025. This massive piece of legislation contained tax and spending policies, including historic cuts to SNAP funding. This Farm Bill is critical because it could lock in or reverse these changes.

1. The SNAP budget was slashed by $187 billion.

This is the largest cut made in the program’s history.

2. SNAP eligibility changed.

Refugees, asylum seekers, and parolees are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits, even if they have legal immigration status. 

Work requirements also tightened. Requirements expanded from adults 18-54 to age 64. Additionally, H.R.1 removed work exemptions for veterans, former foster youth, and those experiencing homelessness. 

Since the passage of H.R. 1, SNAP participation has already decreased by 11%.

3. SNAP-Ed, the nutrition education program, was eliminated.

SNAP-Ed was a program designed to spread nutrition education. This included teaching how to stretch SNAP budgets, cook, and eat nutritionally. This represents around 0.5% of SNAP spending. 

4. SNAP costs are set to be shifted to the states.

For many food access advocates, this is the biggest concern with the 2026 farm bill. SNAP has always been federally funded. However, beginning in 2027, states will be required to pay between 5 and 15% of SNAP benefit costs, based on current SNAP payment error rates. The USDA defines error rates as, “the accuracy of each state’s eligibility and benefit determinations”, representing over and underpayments of monthly benefits, the majority of which are caused by administrative errors. In many states, this totals hundreds of millions of dollars each year, throwing a huge wrench in the state budget. For Colorado, the cost share would be $213 million. 

The map below from Civil Eats illustrates the range in costs for states. Click the link to explore interactively. 

When unexpected costs of this magnitude are shifted onto states with little time to prepare for the change, they must quickly reduce payment error rates and program costs. 

In a survey conducted by The Urban Institute and APHSA, 58% of states reported that they planned to make at least one operational tradeoff to prioritize payment accuracy. Over 25% of states indicated that narrowing eligibility for SNAP is a possibility. The most striking outcome of the survey, however, is that 11% of states said that leaving SNAP is a possibility. Even if SNAP is preserved, some part of the programming will inevitably suffer to make room for this new cost responsibility.

While we are discussing SNAP and payment error rates, let’s take a moment to go through some of the misconceptions that circulate about food assistance.

While there are some fraud issues associated with SNAP, it is largely misunderstood. The blame for SNAP fraud is often placed entirely on recipients, but it can also include retailer fraud and external theft.

The amount of household-related fraud is small. In 2023, state agencies claimed $543 million in household fraudulent activity, but spent $106 billion in benefits. That is 0.5% of the total distributed benefits. SNAP has strict requirements to qualify and quality control systems to ensure eligibility. Additionally, households must recertify their eligibility every 6 to 12 months.

“Critics of SNAP and other safety-net programs used rare instances of individuals exploiting the system as justification to cut back on the program…we end up engaging in collective punishment around the narrative that [SNAP] is flawed and stigmatizing benefits that people really need.”

– Elaine Waxman, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute

With SNAP costs being shifted onto the states, the US government is using SNAP payment error rates to determine how much each state must contribute. Payment error rates are the proportion of under- or overpayments of benefits. According to Congress.gov, this measure includes recipient fraud, recipient errors, and state agency errors, but is not a measure of fraud.

The Food Research Action Center says that this ruling rests “on a flawed premise: that SNAP payment error rates provide a simple, controllable, and reliable measure of state performance.” These errors generally represent administrative mistakes made by eligibility workers operating under constrained resources and frequently changing eligibility rules.

It’s important to note that this measurement does NOT include errors in payment delays, notice issues, or customer service quality. The focus on error rates is not a focus on improving SNAP benefit access or efficiency.

Requiring these cost shifts in a short window of time incentivizes states to reduce SNAP error rates. However, because error rates are not a comprehensive measure of the program’s performance, the easiest way to do this is to scale back SNAP, or toss the program altogether.

There is a misconception that SNAP is a waste of money and a drain on our economy. However, economic research suggests that every dollar given in SNAP benefits generates between $1.50 and $1.79 in economic activity. One study using economic data from 2018 found that SNAP funding generated 388,000 jobs, $20 billion in direct wages, and $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue.

And the impacts of receiving SNAP go far beyond this immediate economic boost. Strong food access allows for better performance in school or work settings, improving long-term financial health. Additionally, receiving food assistance frees up money to seek out preventative health care. When preventative health care is accessible, it reduces the need for complex and expensive healthcare assistance in the future. In fact, low-income adults participating in SNAP sustain nearly 25% less in medical-related costs, compared to non-participants.

With the policies in place from H.R.1, SNAP sales are predicted to fall by an average of 8.7% over the next 9 years. SNAP currently accounts for 12% of all grocery sales in the US. A big decline in SNAP spending will harm grocers, especially those in rural or low-income areas where a big portion of the community relies on SNAP.

Yes, SNAP is a big part of the U.S. budget. But it strengthens our community and economy, and pays itself back in the long run. A strong farm bill should protect food access for our community.

Lawmakers are expected to finalize and pass a bill by the end of the year. There is still time to take action.

The bill is currently being drafted in the Senate and is scheduled to be finalized over the summer. Congressional representatives are currently in their home states for the annual August recess. This is a prime time for constituents (that’s you!) to use their voice and contact their representatives! 

The best way to take action is to tell your representatives how you feel! You can advocate to delay SNAP cost shifts, reinstate SNAP funding, reinstate SNAP-Ed, reduce eligibility tightening, and more.

• Use the FRAC action network to submit statements on the issues that matter!

• Call your representatives!
  • Find your representative’s number. Be prepared to speak to a staffer or leave a voicemail.
  • Make a short script to reference during the call:
    • Introduce yourself. Say your name, address, and tell them you’re a constituent.
    • State the issue you are calling about and why it is important.
    • Make your ask! For example, to support or reject legislation, or to advocate for a certain issue.
  • You can also deliver this information in an email if you prefer.

• Spread the word!
  • The farm bill is complex and constantly changing. The more we all know what is going on, the more leverage we have!
• Follow We Don’t Waste and other food justice groups to have all the news you need right in your feed!