Albany – Today, 69 state legislators, including 33 senators and 36 Assembly members, led by Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, released a letter to New York’s Congressional Delegation, urging them to reverse the nearly $200 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that were implemented as part of H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The lawmakers also called for the reversal of changes to work requirements, eligibility, and other changes that place food assistance out of reach for many New Yorkers. The letter can be viewed here.
“With the cost of food and other basic necessities continually increasing as a direct result of policy decisions coming out of Washington, it is particularly perverse to implement a historically large cut to SNAP benefits,” said Senator Krueger. “Too many Americans  – especially children – are going hungry or having to choose between buying groceries and paying their utility bills. We are urging Congress to take action to reverse these cruel cuts to a program that has supported our neighbors in need for almost 90 years.”

“SNAP is a lifeline for nearly 3 million New Yorkers, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families,” said Assemblymember González-Rojas. “These attacks on SNAP are coming at a time when communities like mine are already struggling to make ends meet, with families facing rising costs for groceries and other basic necessities. At a time like this, Congress should be making it easier, not harder, to put food on the table. These cuts will not only increase hunger, but they will also shift billions of dollars in costs onto New York’s counties, putting pressure on local budgets and taxpayers. We need Congress to reverse these harmful cuts, protect access to nutrition assistance, and make sure every New Yorker can afford the food they need to live with dignity.”

Nearly 3 million New Yorkers – the majority of whom are children, older adults, and people with disabilities – rely on SNAP benefits, and emergency food providers are experiencing unprecedented demand. H.R. 1 implemented the largest reductions to food assistance in modern history. The bill cut the federal share of SNAP administrative costs in half, from 50 percent to 25 percent, effective October 1, 2026. Under existing New York State law, counties must cover the state’s share of these costs. It is estimated that this administrative cost shift will cost New York’s counties $168 million annually, starting with $60 million in the fourth quarter of 2026 alone.

In addition to the administrative cost shift to the states, H.R. 1 also implemented the first-ever benefit cost shift to the states. Starting in October 2027, states will now be responsible for a percentage of the SNAP benefit amount for their residents, based on their error rate. Once again, due to New York State law, counties must cover the state’s share of these costs. The expected share for counties within the state to cover starting next year is $1.3 billion annually.

Unless these historic cuts are reversed, counties will be left with no choice but to raise taxes, cut other essential services, or reduce support for vulnerable New Yorkers. Several New York counties have already announced they are considering tax increases and/or leaving social services positions vacant to cover SNAP costs. Property taxes may have to be raised while more New Yorkers go hungry and food retailers and farmers lose income. Reversing the new benefits cost shift for SNAP is imperative to prevent increased hunger, property tax hikes, and harm to the broader economy.

“It is appalling that, at a time when New Yorkers are already struggling mightily to feed their families, the president and the current majorities in Congress – including seven members of the U.S. House from New York State – chose to implement the largest food aid cuts in U.S. history,” said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a national nonprofit group headquartered in New York. “That was both heartless and economically counterproductive. If states are forced to provide additional and unprecedented funding for SNAP, the State of New York, the City of New York, and counties statewide will be forced to further reduce food aid, cut other programs, and/or raise taxes. We applaud these state legislative leaders for making it clear that Congress needs to take immediate action to reverse these harmful cuts that impact hard working New Yorkers and Americans everywhere.”

The legislators also called on Congress to take immediate action to protect and strengthen SNAP by:

  • Reversing the expansion of Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements and related eligibility restrictions;
  • Rejecting proposals that would further reduce benefits, restrict eligibility, or shift federal nutrition assistance costs to states;
  • Preserving state flexibility to administer SNAP efficiently and effectively;
  • Reversing H.R. 1’s limiting of USDA’s authority to increase the Thrifty Food Plan as the cost of food rises (also called allotments);
  • Making additional groups of noncitizens (e.g., refugees, asylees) who were made ineligible by H.R. 1 eligible for SNAP again; and
  • Strengthening access to nutrition assistance for seniors, children, veterans, and working families facing economic hardship.

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