Statement on the Passage of the Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill

The California Association of Food Banks is deeply disappointed by the passage of the federal Budget Reconciliation bill today, which includes the most severe cuts to SNAP—known as CalFresh in California—in the program’s history. This legislation breaks with decades of federal commitment by shifting billions in costs to states, reducing food assistance for millions of families, and cutting critical support for programs like SUN Bucks and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

These cuts will take food off the table of working parents, grandparents raising children, and veterans—at a time when many families are struggling to afford groceries and are already struggling to make ends meet. New research by the Urban Institute shows that over 3 million families would lose some or all of their benefits.  Additionally, this bill will cut healthcare and other services Californians rely on, further straining people’s food budgets.

California’s food banks remain committed to serving our communities, but they cannot replace SNAP, which provides nine meals for every one meal distributed by food banks. 

While states across the country grapple with how to implement these policies to restrict access to SNAP, one thing is clear: These changes will make it harder—not easier—for families to access food.

What’s in the Bill: Policy Impacts

• Harshly expanded time limits on food assistance: Denies food to more families and seniors unless they meet strict paperwork requirements, including for:
  • Parents and caregivers of children 14 and older (and all other adults in the household who are 18-64)
  • Older adults until they turn 65
• Severely restricts states’ flexibility: Limits states’ ability to waive time limits in areas with high unemployment—despite every state having used this flexibility in the past.
• Eliminates key protections from time limits: Strips away current exemptions for veterans, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness.
• Prevents future SNAP benefit updates: Freezes SNAP benefit levels regardless of rising food prices, ensuring assistance will lose value year after year.
  • Also triggers cuts to TEFAP food bank funding and SUN Bucks benefits
• Reduces household utility and internet costs allowances: Narrows how states can account for utility costs and bars internet costs, cutting SNAP for families.
• Eliminates SNAP Nutrition Education (CalFresh Healthy Living): Ends support for nutrition education programs that help families make healthy, affordable food choices despite their proven impact.

The California Association of Food Banks and its 42-member network remains committed to supporting our communities across the state, but these cuts create an immense gap that we simply cannot fill alone. We urge California’s leaders to take swift action to protect our communities from the harm this bill will cause.