Trump's "big, beautiful bill" puts SNAP at risk in Pennsylvania
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President Trump's massive tax and spending bill could have a dire impact on food benefits for low-income Pennsylvanians for years to come.
The big picture: The "big, beautiful bill" makes deep cuts to the social safety net — including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps) and health benefits for the poorest Americans.
- Republicans claim the bill weeds out waste, fraud and abuse — but experts say the restructuring of assistance programs could leave more people hungry and uninsured.
State of play: Pennsylvania may need hundreds of millions of dollars to keep SNAP benefits intact.
- The additional budget costs could range from $125 million to $800 million, per Spotlight PA.
What they're saying: "Pennsylvania can't backfill those cuts," Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a recent news conference.
- "There's a real question as to whether or not we will be able to operate SNAP any longer."
How it works: The new law introduces several key changes to SNAP.
- Work requirements will now apply to most parents with children age 14 or older, requiring them to work at least 20 hours per week to maintain benefits.
- Age limits for work requirements rise to 64 (up from 54).
- Eligibility is removed for certain immigrant groups, including refugees and people granted asylum.
- State funding obligations will increase starting in 2028, with states covering a portion of benefit costs based on their rate of erroneous payments. Currently, benefits are 100% federally funded, though states share administrative costs.
By the numbers: About 2 million residents — or 15% of the state's population — receive SNAP benefits in the commonwealth.
- Pennsylvania pays out about $4.3 billion every year to SNAP recipients, Spotlight PA reports, according to legislative estimates.
Threat level: Nearly 144,000 Pennsylvanians could lose SNAP benefits under the changes, per Shapiro's office.
- That includes more than 50,000 residents living in the 2nd, 3rd and 5th congressional districts, which cover large swaths of Philadelphia as well as parts of Chester, Montgomery and Delaware counties.
The bottom line: State lawmakers would likely have to pass a tax hike or make a major policy change in order to fill the funding gap.
- That's especially difficult heading into an election year, when Shapiro is seeking a second term.
Go deeper: Where SNAP cuts in Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" could hit Americans hardest