On Monday night, the House Agriculture Committee released a reconciliation bill that proposes unprecedented and deeply harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—a move that threatens to unravel one of our nation’s most effective anti-hunger tools.
This bill would slash billions in food assistance over the next decade, jeopardizing the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, and millions across the country. These cuts come at a time when food insecurity remains high, and far too many people are still struggling to make ends meet.
The bill creates sweeping structural changes to SNAP that would impose significant costs onto states. For a state like Colorado, which already operates under a chronically constrained budget, this cost-shifting threatens the very foundation of a program designed to be universally accessible to those who qualify. It breaks the longstanding federal commitment that SNAP will be there for anyone in need who qualifies for the program.
The proposal erects new barriers to access by cruelly expanding work requirements and limiting state flexibility. These changes disproportionately harm older adults, caregivers, and workers navigating unstable employment, effectively penalizing people for circumstances often beyond their control. Moreover, the bill would artificially limit future updates to benefit levels, ignoring the reality of rising food costs and locking families into inadequate support.
These cuts are not about fiscal responsibility—they are about disinvestment from families and communities, while making room for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. SNAP is more than a basic needs support: it is a powerful engine for public health, child development, economic growth, and local commerce. In Colorado alone, SNAP benefits support over 3,000 retailers and drive dollars directly into our communities.
By undermining SNAP, this bill threatens to increase hunger, hurt local economies, strain health care systems, and widen inequality. It moves us backward at a time when we should be building toward a more resilient and equitable future.
Hunger Free Colorado strongly opposes this legislation and any policy that punishes people for experiencing economic hardship. We call on Congress to reject these dangerous cuts. We remain steadfast in our commitment to defending SNAP and fighting for a future where no Coloradan has to wonder where their next meal will come from. We will continue to stand alongside communities most impacted and advocate for solutions rooted in dignity, equity, and compassion.