# Food programs in the press

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## SNAP Cuts Could Lead To 70,000 Avoidable Deaths{{dated|March 19, 2026}}

March 19, 2026 &mdash; New legislation has introduced the **most significant reductions** in the history of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by implementing **stricter work requirements** and shifting financial burdens to the states.

Research indicates that these barriers to food access could lead to nearly **70,000 avoidable deaths** by 2040 as millions of vulnerable Americans lose their benefits. Beyond the rise in mortality, the cuts are expected to **worsen chronic health conditions** and increase overall healthcare spending due to diminished nutrition. Some states may even be forced to **withdraw from the program** entirely because they cannot afford the new administrative and benefit costs. To prevent this national health crisis, advocates are urging Congress to **reverse the funding cuts** or at least provide states with a more manageable timeline for implementation.

{{full|https://www.americanprogress.org/article/snap-cuts-could-lead-to-70000-avoidable-deaths/}}

## Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.{{dated|October 3, 2025}}

October 3, 2025 &mdash; The Trump administration **canceled $500 million in federal food deliveries** originally destined for food banks, resulting in the loss of **94 million pounds of food** across more than 4,300 scheduled shipments. These mid-year cuts targeted The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides healthy, high-protein items like **meat, dairy, eggs, and produce** to organizations serving low-income Americans.

Key impacts of these cancellations include:
*   **Widespread Shortages:** Canceled items included **27 million pounds of chicken, 2 million gallons of milk, 10 million pounds of dried fruit, and 67 million eggs**.
*   **Growing Insecurity:** The cuts arrived as food banks reported **demand exceeding pandemic-era peaks** and federal data showed food insecurity at its highest level since the Great Recession.
*   **Diminished Aid:** Many food banks have had to **reduce the size of distribution packages** or rely on lower-quality donations that often spoil quickly.
*   **Future Policy Risks:** Beyond these immediate cuts, the administration has signed legislation to **cut SNAP benefits by $187 billion (20%)** through 2034 and canceled annual food insecurity surveys.

Food bank administrators describe the situation as a **policy-driven crisis** that philanthropy and private donations cannot bridge, particularly in rural areas with limited resources.

{{full|https://projects.propublica.org/trump-food-cuts/}}

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