A SNAP funding freeze follows separate federal cuts and new work requirements. How are food banks being impacted?
Food banks in Pennsylvania had already been feeling the strain before the federal government shutdown.
The massive tax and spending bill passed by Congress in July included major cuts to SNAP.
The legislation extended Trump’s 2017 multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and cut Medicaid and food stamps by $1.2 trillion.
The so-called “big, beautiful bill” also included new work requirements for SNAP. Adult recipients under 55 who don’t have children must now prove they work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. In November, veterans and people between the ages of 55 and 64 must also comply with the change.
SNAP eligibility was also removed for some immigrants, including refugees.
Up to 144,000 Pennsylvanians and up to 45,000 Philadelphians risk losing access to SNAP as a result of the new requirements, according to the state.
“We’re worried that many people may lose access to SNAP not because they’re no longer eligible, but because they don’t get the correct piece of paper in and processed at the right time,” Lydia Gottesfeld, an attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, previously told WHYY News.
Separately, the ongoing government shutdown has left more than 66,000 federal workers in the state without pay.
A surge in demand due to paused SNAP benefits and shutdown furloughs will likely exacerbate existing pressure on local food banks.
Share Food Program, which serves the Greater Philadelphia region, cut its budget by 20% this year because of the state budget impasse, executive director George Matysik told The Associated Press.
“Any time we have a crisis,” he said, “it’s always the working class that feels the pain first.”
How are Philadelphia and Pennsylvania officials responding to the SNAP funding freeze?
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has launched the “One Philly (SNAP) Support Plan,” allocating $7 million as part of a $14 million regional effort to support residents affected by these “unprecedented conditions,” as the mayor’s office described them.
Under the plan, $4 million will assist food distribution partners, $1.5 million in emergency rental assistance is earmarked toward supporting furloughed federal workers at risk of eviction, and $1 million in reallocated funds will support vulnerable families with food assistance, among other efforts.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has issued a disaster declaration, expediting the delivery of $5 million to food pantries.
The state will distribute funds from the Pennsylvania Emergency Food Assistance Program, Shapiro said, and reallocate reserves from the state Department of Agriculture to help food banks purchase and distribute more food.
In the state Senate, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for $60 million in emergency aid for food banks and Meals on Wheels programs (S.B. 1080).
In the House of Representatives, Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) has introduced a bill (H.R. 5836) aimed at keeping the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program funded.
WHYY News’ Zoë Read, WITF’s Jaxon White and The Associated Press contributed reporting.
