Nearly 300,000 Coloradans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to meet their basic nutrition needs are expected to lose some or all benefits under the tax and spending bill passed by Republicans in Congress, according to new Urban Institute analysis.

Cuts to the program formerly known as food stamps will affect some 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million adults with disabilities nationwide.

Anya Rose, public policy director with Hunger Free Colorado, said SNAP dollars help low-income families in all corners of the state afford groceries.

"We should be investing in programs like SNAP that have long-term savings, as they improve economic and educational and health outcomes," said Rose. "Not cutting resources that help our communities thrive, ultimately to line the pockets of the wealthiest in our country."

Republican lawmakers say the new law, which extends tax cuts passed under the first Trump administration, will reform the nation's social safety net and help reduce what they describe as unsustainable federal spending.

The measure also expands work requirements for SNAP recipients up to the age of 65, a move Republicans argue will help end dependency on government programs.

Rose noted that the new law provides no funds for job training or placement services, making it harder for Coloradans to find stable employment.

She said the measure also does nothing to lower SNAP's costs, and Colorado will now face $175 million in new, unfunded obligations.

"This is not saving money or imposing fiscal discipline," said Rose. "It is forcing states to cover the bill, and removing the resources that states and counties would need to effectively and accurately implement the program."

Because Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights limits how the state can raise new revenues, Rose said she believes the state could face impossible choices - restrict SNAP eligibility, make enrollment more difficult, or opt out of the program entirely.

"If we have to cover these big new unexpected costs that are really important to bringing resources to our communities," said Rose, "we have very few options."

Groups working to end hunger in Nebraska are reaching out to all parts of the state to train food insecure people to advocate for others facing similar issues.

The advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed's Food Access Community Advocates Cohort educates people over nine months how to build advocacy, community organizing and storytelling skills, so they are better equipped to understand policies affecting the state's most food insecure people.

Megan Hamann, senior community organizer of food and nutrition access for Nebraska Appleseed, said having experienced hunger puts them in a better position to understand and talk about policy issues affecting hungry people in Nebraska.

"They have this lived experience that is really useful, I think, when it comes to making sure that our decision-makers know the impact of the policies they are considering," Hamann explained.

Nebraska Appleseed will start taking applications for new program participants Friday.

Hamann pointed out the number of food insecure people in Nebraska is greater now than it was during the pandemic, when demand at food banks was already high.

"I think with the passage of the recent federal budget reconciliation bill, we are looking forward to a period of time where that need is going to reach new extremes," Hamann projected.

This will be the fourth year of the cohort program. Many past participants have taken leadership roles in their communities and are now leading local efforts to educate others about the best ways to address food insecurity.


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It has been about three weeks since the Rowena Fire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge was put out, and the local food bank remains vital to recovery efforts.

The fire burned 3,600 acres in Wasco County, destroying 56 homes and 100 other structures.

Breen Goodwin, executive director of the Columbia Gorge Food Bank, said they are always prepared to assist during disasters with ready-to-eat emergency food boxes and water. She added many displaced families are living with relatives, in hotels, or camping and remain uncertain about their next steps.

"It is difficult in a community of our size to absorb housing needs for that many families who have lost homes," Goodwin acknowledged. "That next step of the recovery process of truly: 'How are those families being supported with more long term recovery efforts?'"

Breen pointed out the food bank has been serving as a distribution site to hand out supplies from Adventist Health of the Columbia Gorge and other organizations who donated nonfood items, including air purifiers, generators, hygiene supplies and stuffed animals for kids.

One of the biggest challenges, Breen noted, is keeping a supply of drinking water flowing once people start to return home.

"We're able to drop full pallets of water directly into the impacted communities because most of the time the drinking water is no longer safe until enough testing has been done," Breen explained.

The Columbia Gorge Food Bank is one of 21 regional food banks in the Oregon Food Bank Network. Breen emphasized the number of people visiting the food bank rose to about 6,500 per month during the pandemic and has remained at that level. People can visit OregonFoodFinder.org to find pantry locations in their area.

Indiana families are navigating the summer without SUN Bucks, a federal grocery benefit which delivered $120 per child last summer.

Gov. Mike Braun's administration chose not to participate in 2025, citing prior planning gaps.

Mark Lynch, director of advocacy for the Indy Hunger Network, said the funding blackout hit the state hard.

"We really are feeling and seeing the impacts of not having the SUN Bucks program this year," Lynch emphasized. "That $120 per summer for those students that they had last year have created some longer lines at our food pantries."

State leaders said administrative hurdles kept Indiana out of the program. Supporters argued skipping SUN Bucks puts pressure on food banks and leaves low-income families with fewer options.

Lynch noted to help bridge the gap, Indiana expanded its summer meal sites to include prepackaged meals, which do not require daily pickups.

"But there's school starting soon and they're giving their workers some time off for the summer, so that might be ending in the next week or two," Lynch explained. "That's just an example and that happens around the state in rural, suburban, and in city communities."

The Indy Hunger Network and other partners continue to support Hoosiers through tools like the Community Compass app, which shows nearby meal sites and grocery assistance programs.


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