House GOP Advances Bill to Gut $300 Billion From Food Aid Programs

The House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 along party lines to advance a bill that could slash up to $300 billion in food aid spending to help pay for Republicans' broader domestic policy agenda, including some farm bill programs. The proposal, which now moves to the House Budget Committee, would introduce the most significant overhaul to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in decades, affecting more than 42 million Americans who rely on the program to afford food.

The GOP plan aims to reduce federal SNAP costs by requiring states to share a portion of the expenses, a major shift in how the program has operated. Under the proposed legislation, states would cover at least 5 percent of SNAP benefit costs starting in fiscal year 2028. However, this cost-sharing responsibility increases based on a state’s payment error rates, potentially reaching as high as 25 percent for those with error rates exceeding 10 percent. Specifically, states with error rates between 6 and 8 percent would cover 15 percent of their SNAP costs, while those between 8 and 10 percent would be responsible for 20 percent.

House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) expressed optimism about the bill’s progress, stating, “I’m looking forward to getting this reconciliation bill across the finish line.” However, the measure has faced pushback from some centrist Republicans concerned that the cost-sharing model could disproportionately impact red states and key voting blocs.

During the committee’s markup session, Democrats introduced several amendments to mitigate the potential impact of these cuts, but all were rejected. Ranking member Angie Craig (D-Minn.) criticized the measure, stating that Democrats “worked tirelessly to try and put lipstick on this pig,” reflecting widespread concerns about the bill's potential impact on vulnerable populations.

With projected savings of $300 billion, the bill surpasses the committee’s instructed target of $230 billion, providing enough financial flexibility to include a $60 billion farm bill package — a crucial component for gaining broader GOP support. The House Budget Committee is set to review the full reconciliation bill on Friday as Republicans push to fast-track their sweeping cuts.

Link: Politico