Katie Bergh
@katiebergh.bsky.social
SNAP/WIC/Child Nutrition at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Come for the corgi pictures, stay for the food assistance policy.
Pinned
Katie Bergh
@katiebergh.bsky.social
· Aug 13
By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The harmful Republican megabill, enacted on July 4, will dramatically raise costs and reduce food assistance for millions of people by cutting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
www.cbpp.org
We've updated our analysis of the Republican megabill's #SNAP cuts based on new info from CBO this week.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
The Trump Admin’s move to rescind the Biden-era public charge rule will cause fear and confusion among immigrants and their families, leading many to forgo needed health care, food, or other support out of concern it could affect their immigration status. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Trump Administration’s Move to Rescind Public Charge Rule Will Cause Fear, Confusion for Immigrants
November 19, 2025: The Trump Administration has moved to rescind the Biden Administration’s public charge rule, reigniting fear and confusion among people who are immigrants and their families. The pr...
www.cbpp.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The Trump Admin’s move to rescind the Biden-era public charge rule will cause fear and confusion among immigrants and their families, leading many to forgo needed health care, food, or other support out of concern it could affect their immigration status. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
A tragedy in 3 parts:
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A tragedy in 3 parts:
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
1️⃣Scammers exploit outdated tech to steal SNAP from low-income families
2️⃣Congress ends replacement benefits for victims
3️⃣With victims bearing the cost, most states don't invest the $$$ for more secure payment methods & USDA slow-walks regs requiring them
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Penalizing poor families for having a car or having minimal savings is pretty bad policy.
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
November 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Penalizing poor families for having a car or having minimal savings is pretty bad policy.
SNAP's status post-shutdown from @tyjonescox.bsky.social:
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
Taking Away Food Assistance Puts the Trump Administration on the Wrong Side of History
The Trump Administration became so determined to deny people their SNAP benefits that it fought all the way to the Supreme Court, even though the funds were available and it had the legal authority to...
www.cbpp.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
SNAP's status post-shutdown from @tyjonescox.bsky.social:
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
"The public won’t soon forget that SNAP benefits were suspended, and they won’t like seeing more people lose their benefits permanently as the food assistance cuts in the Republican megabill get implemented."
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
On Friday, USDA reiterated that states were required to implement many of the megabill's SNAP cuts—major changes impacting millions of people—on the day it became law, with a grace period that ended 11/1. States won't get more time before they start being penalized for errors.
November 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
On Friday, USDA reiterated that states were required to implement many of the megabill's SNAP cuts—major changes impacting millions of people—on the day it became law, with a grace period that ended 11/1. States won't get more time before they start being penalized for errors.
Aside from the fact that SNAP participants already have to periodically recertify for benefits — usually every 6 or 12 months — SNAP rules also prohibit states from arbitrarily shortening a household's certification period to force them to reapply early.
The Trump admin to require millions of low-income people to reapply for food stamps as part of an effort to crack down on “fraud," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
The move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and get rid of “fraud.”
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Aside from the fact that SNAP participants already have to periodically recertify for benefits — usually every 6 or 12 months — SNAP rules also prohibit states from arbitrarily shortening a household's certification period to force them to reapply early.
As the shutdown ends, the Republican megabill’s #SNAP cuts — the deepest cuts to food assistance in history — are starting to go into effect.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
We've updated our analysis of the Republican megabill's #SNAP cuts based on new info from CBO this week.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
Bottom line: About 4 million people, including 1 million kids, are projected to see their SNAP benefits cut substantially or terminated altogether.
By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The harmful Republican megabill, enacted on July 4, will dramatically raise costs and reduce food assistance for millions of people by cutting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
www.cbpp.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
As the shutdown ends, the Republican megabill’s #SNAP cuts — the deepest cuts to food assistance in history — are starting to go into effect.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
Millions of low-income people who just experienced delays & uncertainty during the shutdown are now at risk of losing SNAP permanently.
As one federal judge noted today, the Trump Administration's approach to SNAP during the shutdown "repeatedly shifted the goalposts for States, each time requiring States to rely on incorrect information not in accordance with the law."
That just about sums it up.
That just about sums it up.
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
As one federal judge noted today, the Trump Administration's approach to SNAP during the shutdown "repeatedly shifted the goalposts for States, each time requiring States to rely on incorrect information not in accordance with the law."
That just about sums it up.
That just about sums it up.
Food assistance for low-income veterans isn't only at risk because of the shutdown. The Republican megabill's SNAP cuts specifically targeted veterans by eliminating their previous exemption from SNAP's harsh three-month time limit.
This Veterans Day, 1.2 million U.S. veterans who count on SNAP to afford food have been harmed, as the Trump Admin has been withholding benefits during the shutdown and the harmful Republican megabill's deep cuts mean many people will lose SNAP altogether.
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Food assistance for low-income veterans isn't only at risk because of the shutdown. The Republican megabill's SNAP cuts specifically targeted veterans by eliminating their previous exemption from SNAP's harsh three-month time limit.
“Most egregious has been the Administration’s relentless effort to keep people from getting help affording food, leaving millions of people to go hungry for perceived political gain, even as the Administration admitted in court they had the resources and authority to provide assistance.”
@sharonparrott.bsky.social lifts up 2 key issues that remain unaddressed as the Senate considers bills to end the shutdown: the looming spike in health care costs for 20M ppl & the need for guardrails to stop the President from undoing parts of bipartisan funding laws www.cbpp.org/press/statem...
Beyond the Shutdown: Country Needs Congress and President to Address Health Care Cost Spikes and Rule of Law
Two fundamental issues remain unaddressed, and Congress needs to tackle them without delay.
www.cbpp.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
“Most egregious has been the Administration’s relentless effort to keep people from getting help affording food, leaving millions of people to go hungry for perceived political gain, even as the Administration admitted in court they had the resources and authority to provide assistance.”
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
After the chaos of constantly shifting USDA guidance over the last week, a quick SNAP recap:
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Some households received their full benefits.
Some got partial benefits.
Some got *different* partial benefits because USDA initially did the math wrong.
Many have still received nothing.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
November 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Update: USDA revised their #SNAP contingency fund plan to provide households with a larger share of their November benefits. This is an important but inadequate step. Families need their full benefits to afford groceries & the Administration has the authority to provide them.
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Update: USDA revised their #SNAP contingency fund plan to provide households with a larger share of their November benefits. This is an important but inadequate step. Families need their full benefits to afford groceries & the Administration has the authority to provide them.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Low-income families will see even deeper #SNAP cuts because the Administration plans to release only two-thirds of the funds it says are available, shortchanging millions who rely on benefits to afford food. More from @katiebergh.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/blog/adminis...
Administration Won’t Spend All SNAP Funds It Says Are Available, Leading to Deep Benefit Cuts for Low-Income Households
The Trump Administration is only planning to release two-thirds of the SNAP funding it committed to spend to partially cover November benefits, cutting families’ benefits far more than necessary and s...
www.cbpp.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Low-income families will see even deeper #SNAP cuts because the Administration plans to release only two-thirds of the funds it says are available, shortchanging millions who rely on benefits to afford food. More from @katiebergh.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/blog/adminis...
If SNAP math is hurting your brain today, this is shows why USDA's 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits translates into a much deeper cut to average benefits.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
So the range of outcomes is
- 50 percent of benefits
- less than 50 percent of benefits
- no benefits at all
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
- 50 percent of benefits
- less than 50 percent of benefits
- no benefits at all
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
If SNAP math is hurting your brain today, this is shows why USDA's 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits translates into a much deeper cut to average benefits.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
Only households receiving the maximum benefit will see a 50% cut under USDA's plan – and everyone else gets cut more deeply.
Reposted by Katie Bergh
NEW: Millions of poor Americans could see $0 in SNAP benefits even after the Trump admin agreed to resume partial benefits in response to a court order. This is because of the way the government has interpreted the directive, which could also delay aid for weeks. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NEW: Millions of poor Americans could see $0 in SNAP benefits even after the Trump admin agreed to resume partial benefits in response to a court order. This is because of the way the government has interpreted the directive, which could also delay aid for weeks. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Reposted by Katie Bergh
Remember the lesson to watch what people DO rather than what they SAY?
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
Why does a 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits = a ~60% cut in average benefits?
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
We estimate that USDA’s plan will result in a roughly 60% cut in average benefits. Because of how the SNAP benefit calculation works, USDA's plan to cut maximum benefits for each household size by 50% results in a deeper cut to average benefits—and a much deeper cut than needed.
November 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Remember the lesson to watch what people DO rather than what they SAY?
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
Why does a 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits = a ~60% cut in average benefits?
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
We estimate that USDA’s plan will result in a roughly 60% cut in average benefits. Because of how the SNAP benefit calculation works, USDA's plan to cut maximum benefits for each household size by 50% results in a deeper cut to average benefits—and a much deeper cut than needed.
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Why does a 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits = a ~60% cut in average benefits?
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
Sensing a theme in megabill implementation: The Trump Administration is once again putting even more people at risk of losing SNAP benefits unnecessarily & setting states up to fail by issuing unclear guidance with unrealistic implementation timelines.
Last Friday, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) finally provided states guidance on how to implement the harsh, anti-immigrant restrictions to food assistance in the harmful Republican megabill.
fns-prod.azureedge.us
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Sensing a theme in megabill implementation: The Trump Administration is once again putting even more people at risk of losing SNAP benefits unnecessarily & setting states up to fail by issuing unclear guidance with unrealistic implementation timelines.
Let's be clear: Any delays as states work to implement partial benefits will be because the Administration has deliberately chosen not to transfer the funds needed for full benefits—which the courts affirmed they have the authority to do.
The Trump administration's plan to partially fund SNAP benefits won't happen quickly. Here's what to know.
Why November SNAP benefits may not be available for several weeks or months
The USDA says that state systems which distribute benefits are different, which could cause delays.
www.axios.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Let's be clear: Any delays as states work to implement partial benefits will be because the Administration has deliberately chosen not to transfer the funds needed for full benefits—which the courts affirmed they have the authority to do.
Doing the bare minimum because a court order forced their hand? That's not enough.
The Administration could & should use their legal transfer authority so low-income families receive full SNAP benefits for November—and full benefits could get to those families more quickly.⤵️
The Administration could & should use their legal transfer authority so low-income families receive full SNAP benefits for November—and full benefits could get to those families more quickly.⤵️
It is a relief that the Administration is finally agreeing to do the bare minimum and follow the law by using the #SNAP contingency reserve to partially fund November SNAP benefits & nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico & American Samoa.
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Doing the bare minimum because a court order forced their hand? That's not enough.
The Administration could & should use their legal transfer authority so low-income families receive full SNAP benefits for November—and full benefits could get to those families more quickly.⤵️
The Administration could & should use their legal transfer authority so low-income families receive full SNAP benefits for November—and full benefits could get to those families more quickly.⤵️