Food/SNAP Benefits Cuts—
By Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
County leaders in California are speaking out against major federal cuts to SNAP, the food assistance program that helps low-income families buy groceries.
Last summer, Republicans in Congress voted to tighten work requirements for SNAP recipients and shift up to 75% of administrative costs to the states.
Kelly Long, a Ventura County supervisor, said California counties administer the program, so they see the effects of the cuts up close.
Long pointed out 10% of Ventura County residents currently receive SNAP benefits, which help families buy healthy and nutritious food, adding 40% of recipients are children.
People in need are already losing access to SNAP benefits. Data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show SNAP participation in California is down 5.5% since last summer. Many Democratic leaders in California are calling on Congress to restore SNAP benefits in the next FARM bill.
Long also serves on the Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties. She pointed out SNAP benefits allow families to buy fresh produce, which also supports local farmers.
“We are actually supporting our small farmers, which is an extreme win-win for us,” Long emphasized. “We need healthy people, we need quality agriculture and we need it locally driven.”
Long noted counties are working to help people navigate the changes and maintain their eligibility.
A 2025 report from the National Association of Counties found more than 10% of American households struggled to put food on the table in the prior year, and 4% were regularly skipping meals.
