Federal

Republicans Plan $230 Billion Cuts to Food Stamp Over 10 Years in $4.9 Trillion Tax Plan, Sparking Bipartisan Tensions

As House Republicans prepare a sweeping tax and spending package to fulfill President Donald Trump’s second-term economic agenda, proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have triggered intense debate on Capitol Hill and across the country. The proposed legislation—unveiled on May 12 —seeks to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year. It also includes new tax breaks for tips, overtime pay, and local taxes. The full package is estimated to cost $4.9 trillion over 10 years and includes a range of cost offsets such as cuts to Medicaid, a tax increase on university endowments, and a major overhaul of SNAP. SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, provides nutritional assistance to roughly 40 million low-income Americans and operates on an annual budget of $110 to $120 billion. The program supports children, seniors, and families in an effort to combat food insecurity. Among the proposed reforms is a co...