SNAP's funding model is starting to change. Here's what that means for the program
The federal government is restructuring SNAP funding, shifting a larger portion of administrative costs from federal to state budgets. This change is expected to reduce federal spending by $16.9 billion over five years and may force states to cover significant shortfalls.
Why it matters
The shift places a heavy financial burden on states, potentially threatening the stability of food assistance programs for millions of low-income Americans.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is undergoing a drastic restructuring of its funding model — one that will reduce federal support and require states to shoulder a larger share of the bill.
Education As millions of kids lose SNAP food benefits, free school meals are also at risk Historically, the federal government and states have evenly split the food aid program's operational costs, such as paying for state workers and training staff. But starting on Thursday, states will need to cover 75% of that tab while federal funding shrinks by half.
By the federal government's own calculations , the new rule will lead to a $16.9 billion reduction in federal spending for SNAP over the next five years, or $3.4 billion annually.
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