Letter to the Editor: Lawmakers must restore SNAP funding

Published 11:00 am Friday, May 22, 2026

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is America’s last line of defense against hunger. It helps over 40 million people, most of them kids, seniors and people with disabilities, put food on the table each month.

Approximately 900,000 to 1 million people in Washington state receive SNAP benefits. This represents roughly 12% of the state’s total population. Over 34% of recipients are children.

Under President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” Congress cut SNAP to pay for new tax cuts for the wealthy. Eliminating over $187 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), the legislation is hurting struggling families and resulting in food insecurity and hunger.

Food banks have already been struggling to meet the increased food insecurity needs of their communities. With gas and food prices on the rise, that pressure is only multiplying.

Any farm legislation Congress considers this year must ensure people can eat. We need to demand that our representatives reject any Farm Bill or farm bailout that does not undo these cruel cuts to SNAP.

Amanda Walker

Lake Tapps