by A major federal budget proposal, known as the Big Beautiful Bill, could bring sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with significant impacts expected across North Dakota.
Key Facts About SNAP:
- SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
- In 2024, SNAP served an average of 41.7 million Americans each month — about 12% of the U.S. population.
- In North Dakota, 48,700 residents — roughly 1 in 16 people — relied on SNAP for food assistance in 2024.
- SNAP benefits are distributed through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, accepted at over 260,000 retailers nationwide.
- In North Dakota, SNAP injected $111.45 million into the state’s economy in 2024, with an average benefit of $191 per person per month.
Proposed Changes in the Big Beautiful Bill:
- Tightening of eligibility requirements, making it harder to qualify for SNAP.
- Reduction in benefit amounts for recipients.
- Expansion of work requirements for certain groups receiving SNAP.
Supporters Say:
- The reforms will promote employment.
- They will help reduce dependency on government assistance.
Critics Warn:
- The cuts could reverse progress in fighting food insecurity.
- Vulnerable groups, including families with children, seniors, and working adults, will be most affected.
- Rural communities with limited food access may face heightened hardship.
SNAP’s Economic and Social Impact:
- Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates approximately $1.50 in economic activity, supporting grocers, farmers, and food producers.
- Between 2015 and 2019, SNAP lifted an estimated 14,000 North Dakotans, including 7,000 children, above the poverty line each year.
- In 2023, 8.6% of North Dakota households reported experiencing food insecurity.
- 9.8% of North Dakota’s population lives below the poverty line.
What’s Next:
- The bill is currently being debated in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- State officials and community organizations in North Dakota are bracing for the potential impacts.
- If passed, the Big Beautiful Bill would mark one of the most significant overhauls to SNAP in decades.
