SNAP benefits would be cut by about $30B under House farm bill

According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a farm bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee would lead to up to about $30 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit cuts. 

The source of the cut comes from the bill limiting the authority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to adjust the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) to accurately reflect the cost of a realistic, healthy diet, reports the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy institute. It would prohibit increases in the cost of the TFP outside of inflation adjustments. 

Beginning in 2027, the limitation would cut SNAP benefits for 40 million people, including 17 million children, 6 million older adults, and 4 million with disabilities in a typical month, according to the CBO. 

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities also contends that the bill would change how states administer SNAP, including what it calls “misguided program integrity” and privatization measures that would make it more difficult for households to access SNAP benefits. 

Additionally, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the farm bill would shift about $20 billion from future food assistance for low-income people to fund unrelated programs that do not help them meet their food needs.

Related:Why do SNAP households purchase more unhealthy food?