On Tuesday, July 1st, the Senate passed the “one big, beautiful bill act” (OBBBA) on a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The bill was sent back to the House of Representatives for reconciliation, and on Thursday, July 3rd, the bill passed with a final vote of 218-214, leading Trump to sign this bill into law by his Fourth of July deadline.

Key provisions and budgetary reductions in the OBBBA will have life-altering impact on food access for millions of families. Here’s a breakdown of the anticipated change for federally regulated food access programs critical for sustenance for vulnerable populations across the United States, especially children and families: 

Modifications to SNAP Work Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults

Under the OBBBA, able-bodied adults are now federally required to meet work requirements to be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the age limit is being raised to 64 years old. It also adds that parents or guardians of children aged 10 or older are also required to work to be considered eligible for SNAP. 

Additionally, they are removing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary’s ability to easily give work requirement waivers in areas with few jobs. Now, waivers are only allowed in places where the unemployment rate is over 10 percent.

Availability of Standard Utility Allowances Based on Receipt of Energy Assistance

Households will no longer automatically qualify for SNAP’s Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) just by getting $20 or more from energy assistance programs—unless they have elderly or disabled members. Energy assistance from state programs can no longer be treated as “out-of-pocket” utility costs in SNAP calculations. Most households must now count state energy assistance as income when applying for SNAP. Only households with elderly or disabled members are exempt from this rule.

The bill also indicates that households can no longer count internet bills as part of their housing and utility costs when applying for SNAP benefits. These costs are usually used to calculate the excess shelter deduction, which helps lower a household’s countable income—potentially increasing the amount of SNAP benefits they get. By removing internet costs from this calculation, some households may see lower SNAP benefits than before.

Matching Funds Requirements for States

Starting in 2028, states with higher SNAP payment errors will have to pay a portion of the program’s costs out of their own budgets. Payment error rates show how often mistakes happen when states send out SNAP benefits. For example, errors can occur if someone receives too much money, too little money, or if a person who isn’t eligible still gets benefits. This means states could face new expenses to manage SNAP benefits if they do not accurately track eligibility under these new constraints. 

Starting in 2027, the federal government will pay less towards the costs of running the SNAP, decreasing from a 50% contribution to 25%. This will cause states to cover the administrative costs of the federal government, affecting the allocation of resources for communities within each state. [add how]

Consequently, this cost shift forces states to allocate millions in additional funding to sustain the SNAP program. Governors of twenty-three states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Nebraska, California, and others, have warned that without significant cuts to other essential services, they may be unable to fully support SNAP under the new financial burden. 

Governors warned that these consequences will deepen food insecurity, resulting in increased hunger and poverty. Both children and adults will face worsening health outcomes, rural grocery stores will struggle to remain open, jobs in agriculture and the food industry will be lost, and state and local economies will experience significant strain.

Furthermore, the government will stop providing $550 million annually to the National Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program, commonly known as SNAP-Ed, starting in 2026. This program funds efforts aimed at educating people about healthy eating and preventing obesity, leading communities vulnerable, and limiting the promotion of nutrition education and healthier lifestyles. 

SNAP Eligibility for Non-Citizens

This bill limits SNAP benefits to only individuals who reside in the United States and are

(1) U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals; 

(2) aliens lawfully admitted for permanent

residence as an immigrant, with exceptions; 

(3) aliens who are Cuban citizens or

Cuban nationals and meet certain requirements; or 

(4) individuals who are lawfully residing in the United States in accordance with the Compacts of Free Association between the United States and Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.

Prior to this change, non-citizens who were eligible for SNAP included:

• Refugees
• Individuals granted asylum
• Victims of severe trafficking
• Deportation withheld
• Amerasians
• Cuban and Haitian entrants
• Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants (SIV)
• Certain American Indians born abroad
• Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members
• Compacts of Free Association (COFA) citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau

This change significantly narrows eligibility for many legal non-citizens who previously qualified for SNAP benefits. This shift places greater restrictions on who can receive help and may create barriers for vulnerable immigrant populations who need support.

These sweeping changes are expected to take effect in the coming months and years, with some already impacting families nationwide. As the broader consequences unfold, we know that many in our communities are worried about where their next meal will come from.

To help bridge the gap, we are sharing several local resources that can provide immediate support:

For local food pantries near you, please visit this link.

Upcoming food and diaper distribution events in Washington, DC:

Event: Faith United UCC Mobile Food & Diaper Distribution

• Date: Thursday, July 17th / Aug . 21st
• Time: 9 am to 12 noon
• Place: Faith United UCC Church, 4900 10th Street NE, Washington DC 20017

Event: People’s Congregational Church Food Distribution

• Date: June 19th, July 18th, August 22nd
• Time: 10 am to 1 pm
• Place: People’s Congregational Church, 4704 13th Street NW, Washington DC 20011