Analysis Shows Consequence
of Cuts to Food Programs
in Deep South
MONTGOMERY, Ala.-- (SPLC) 9/6/2026 -- Just over a year since the dubiously named “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) was signed into law, communities across the country are more clearly seeing the ramifications of the massive cuts that are decimating basic needs programs designed to help families keep food on their tables. Coinciding with Hunger Action Month, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) recently released new research examining the impacts of the Trump administration’s nearly $190 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The SPLC’s research explores how H.R. 1 will create additional barriers for Black and rural communities who have faced a history of discrimination in food assistance policy and how states throughout the Deep South have responded to funding gaps created by the legislation.
“The decision to cut families off from SNAP to help pay for tax breaks for the extraordinarily wealthy showed blatant disregard for the reality that everyday people, especially in the Deep South, have been living,” said Gina Azito Thompson, policy analyst, SPLC. “A year after H.R. 1 was signed, household bills are still far too high for so many families struggling to survive this affordability crisis, and yet many are callously being told to fend for themselves when it comes to putting food on the table.”
A critical lifeline for people experiencing hunger, SNAP provides food assistance to more than 6.1 million people in the Deep South, or approximately 15% of all SNAP households in the country. Unfortunately, H.R. 1 not only initiated the largest federal funding cuts to SNAP in history, but it also expanded work reporting requirements for older adults and parents of children aged 14 and older, restricting eligibility for the program. From July 2025 to April 2026, SNAP participation nationwide fell by an estimated 4.5 million people. And between July 2025 and February 2026, SNAP enrollments in the Deep South fell by about:
- Alabama: 40,000 (5.5%)
- Florida: 300,000 (10.6%)
- Georgia: 80,000 (6.0%)
- Louisiana: 120,000 (14.9%)
- Mississippi: 34,000 (9.5%)
States are also grappling with a steep increase in costs to run the program. While the federal government had previously covered half of the administrative costs for SNAP, states will now be required to shoulder 75% of the expenses. They could also face drastic financial penalties for inaccuracies in assistance distribution. By fiscal year 2028 (October 2027), states may have to pay hundreds of millions more just to keep the same number of people enrolled in SNAP.
“Our states are already feeling the dire consequences of H.R. 1 cuts on their budgets. And while they have increased funding to cover the added administrative costs of SNAP for next year, these are temporary fixes that sometimes end up pulling money from other critical programs like childcare assistance,” said Theresa Lau, senior policy counsel, SPLC. “When the extremely steep costs hit in late 2027 and they can’t find those quick fixes, we unfortunately know how many of our states are primed to respond: further cuts to assistance and new eligibility requirements that kick even more people off of these programs. Families in the Deep South won’t be able to afford that.”
Additionally, the SPLC’s research outlines a number of actions that both federal and state governments can take to shore up food assistance programs, as well as healthcare programs, which also saw drastic cuts due to H.R. 1, resulting in significant loss of insurance coverage for Americans.
Poverty, food insecurity, poor nutrition and health are closely intertwined, underscoring the importance of effective healthcare and food assistance programs, especially for communities in the Deep South. To help raise awareness about the interconnected systemic issues that trap communities in harmful economic conditions, the SPLC launched the Poverty Is Not a Line campaign earlier this year, which explores how to understand the experiences of people living in poverty. While the campaign aims to build momentum for policy solutions to address issues such as food insecurity, community members can also take direct action to help combat the hunger crisis in the United States by donating to and volunteering at local food banks. Press release date: 9/3/26)
