Key Takeaways:
The House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 on March 5 to advance a Farm Bill that does nothing to reverse $187 billion in SNAP cuts enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Expanded work requirements will require adults up to age 64 to work 80 hours per month, affecting an estimated 2.4 million people including older adults, veterans, and parents.
The USDA terminated the Household Food Security Report last September, eliminating the only comprehensive federal survey tracking food insecurity after 30 years of publication.
The House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 on March 5 to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Seven Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill out of committee. Chairman Glenn Thompson intends to bring it to the full House floor by Easter.
The bill does not address the $187 billion in SNAP cuts enacted last July through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Those cuts represent the largest reduction to food assistance in American history. Democrats introduced amendments during markup to reverse the cuts and roll back new work requirements. None passed.
4 Million People Affected
The combined impact of the existing cuts and the new Farm Bill is projected to hit approximately 4 million people, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. Over 1 million older adults ages 55 to 64 are expected to lose food assistance entirely. New work requirements mandate 80 hours per month of work for adults up to age 64, including parents with dependents 14 and older. Exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults recently in foster care have been removed.
The last Household Food Security Report showed 47.9 million Americans in food-insecure households in 2024. Nearly 1 in 5 households with children. 14.1 million children. The USDA terminated that report in September 2025, calling it "subjective, liberal fodder." No comparable federal survey exists.
The government cut the programs feeding people, then eliminated the instrument measuring the consequences. California has introduced a state bill to independently measure food insecurity because the federal government will not.
People Also Ask
Q: How much has SNAP been cut in the One Big Beautiful Bill? A: SNAP funding was cut by $187 billion through 2034, approximately a 20% reduction, the largest cut in the program's history.
Q: How many people will lose SNAP benefits? A: The Congressional Budget Office estimates approximately 4 million people, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Q: Why did the USDA cancel the food insecurity report? A: The USDA called the 30-year Household Food Security Report "redundant" and terminated it in September 2025, eliminating the only comprehensive federal measure of food insecurity.
Q: What are the new SNAP work requirements? A: Adults up to age 64 must work at least 80 hours per month, including parents with dependents 14 and older, with exemptions removed for veterans and people experiencing homelessness.
Sources: Farm Aid | CBPP | Food & Water Watch | Prior WYDE coverage: SNAP Cuts Hit. MrBeast Bought a Bank.