House Passes Historic Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid — Our Commitment to Neighbors Remains Strong

Today, Congress passed a federal budget bill that includes the largest cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid in our nation’s history, which is expected to be signed by the President tomorrow - July 4,2025.

This decision is deeply disappointing because of the very real impact it will have on our most vulnerable community members — families, seniors, veterans, children, and people with disabilities who rely on these vital programs to stay healthy and fed.

While final details are still emerging, these cuts could push thousands more of our neighbors here in Northwest North Carolina into deeper hardship. And the effects won’t stop at the family table. SNAP dollars help North Carolina farmers sell the food they grow, keep local grocery stores viable, and sustain rural communities.

By shifting millions of dollars in costs to states and counties, local leaders will now face hard choices: reduce services, raise local taxes, or risk losing SNAP benefits for 1.4 million North Carolinians — including an estimated 260,000 people right here in our 18-county service region.

Second Harvest provides more than 80% of the food distributed by our network of over 500 partner agencies across Northwest North Carolina. Together, we provided 40 million meals in the past year alone — and that work will continue, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

These cuts will not take effect overnight, but our planning begins now. We will continue working closely with state and county leaders to understand how they will respond. We will keep lifting the stories and voices of neighbors who will be most impacted. And we remain deeply committed to doing all we can to keep our shelves stocked, our partners supported, and our communities strong.

Charity alone cannot fill the gap left by these cuts. But our commitment to building healthy, food-secure communities for all people has never been stronger. Together with our donors, partners, volunteers, farmers, and advocates, we will keep showing up for our neighbors — and we will stand up for solutions that protect families and strengthen local economies.

Here's what you can do now:

• Stay informed — we’ll share updates as more local details come into focus.

• Keep speaking up — lawmakers need to keep hearing that families, farmers, veterans, and communities must come first.

• Stand with Second Harvest — your donations, volunteer time, and advocacy make this work possible and are more vital than ever.

True freedom means everyone has enough to eat, good health, and hope for tomorrow. Thank you for standing with us to make that true for every neighbor.

Eric A. Aft Chief Executive Officer Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC