October 24, 2025

In Recent News: The “Big, Beautiful Bill,” SNAP, and Food Insecurity

The recent budget act, “Big, Beautiful Bill,” calls for significant cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Not all of the threats to food security are in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Due to the recent government shutdown, there is also an anticipated interruption in the flow of funds to CalFresh recipients, beginning on November 1st until further notice.

Why is this a big deal? 

Millions of people are expected to lose some or all of their food benefits, and many more will have fewer benefits over the next few years. As the holidays approach, families will struggle to put food on their plates. Many families may have to make difficult decisions: affording groceries for the holidays or prioritizing other necessities (e.g., rent, utility bills, insurance, etc.), much less holiday presents and cheer.

Additionally, in Alameda County, over 175,000 individuals rely on SNAP benefits to have healthy meals every night, according to the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB). They also reported that 1 in 4 residents experience food insecurity, which is a lack of access to healthy and affordable food. 

That is a lot of people, and the numbers are even higher for households with children!

How This Impacts Our Children: Physical and Mental Health 

As of 2023, Healthy Alameda County reports that 40.4% of households with children depend on SNAP. Feeding America estimates that 12.2% of the county’s children are food insecure. These are devastating numbers because no one, let alone a child, should go hungry in a country of abundance. 

Experiencing food insecurity is more than just about going hungry, too. When healthy food is hard to get and expensive, there are consequences. People with food insecurity and hunger suffer an increased risk for chronic health conditions. We see them all the time. People who are overweight but malnourished. People who need to prioritize eating affordable and filling meals—which tend to be high in fat, carbohydrates, and sodium (i.e., fast food)—frequently get heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, and/or chronic kidney failure. These are diets of necessity, not choice, but they become habits that are very hard to break.

Having little to no healthy food for long periods of time may contribute to worse mental health, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. For example, a lack of adequate nutrition can impact your cognitive function and worsen mood disorders. Food insecurity may also look like persistent worrying about when our next meal could be or making ends meet. This constant anxiety and instability can worsen our mental health, adding to the daily challenges faced by those with food insecurity. 

Children are no exception. Because of insufficient nutrition, children are more likely to perform worse academically than their peers. They may also experience both cognitive and behavioral issues.

Food insecurity not only impacts those experiencing it, but it also affects you and society as a whole. These health disparities and mental health challenges worsen economic productivity, which is even more reason to address food insecurity. These SNAP cuts and delays in CalFresh benefits only add to these ongoing issues.

How This Impacts Our Children: New Requirements

Additionally, new strict work requirements will cause many families and individuals to lose their benefits. This legislation will raise the 20-hour weekly work requirement age from 54 to 64 for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) and apply to those with children 14 and older. 

But, this sounds economically productive. Why would this be a bad thing?

If a parent or caregiver has barriers to employment, such as devoting significant hours to caring for their children, they would have to choose between working (and therefore being unable to provide care) to keep their benefits or losing SNAP altogether when their household needs have remained unchanged. Plus, if they choose to work part-time, they may not meet eligibility requirements for SNAP benefits, and they may not earn enough for the costly child-care expenses, utility bills, and so on.

Also, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, they find that these work requirements do not have a meaningful effect on labor supply. This suggests that “red taping” supplemental nutrition benefits actually decreases SNAP participation and has no beneficial effect on the labor force. “Red taping” refers to excessive rules that cause delays and inefficiency, a term often associated with government agencies and large organizations.

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” will cause people, especially children, to be much more food insecure, exposing them to a multitude of physical and emotional issues.

Combatting Food Insecurity Through Community Food Resources

One way to fight back against SNAP cuts and food insecurity is through community food banks and pantries, and they show no sign of stopping anytime soon. 

Families and individuals can utilize local food distribution sites and pick up healthy, organic produce or meals. Alameda County residents may use Alameda County Community Food Bank’s food distribution locator to find nearby food sources (e.g., nearby churches, schools, community centers, etc.) or receive CalFresh assistance.

You may also visit our page for a list of food distribution locators and nearby free food sources, which include BackPack programs (free groceries for the weekends and school breaks) and mobile food pantries. 

Doing your own research? Here’s what you need to know.

If you are in need of additional food support, try using these keywords: food pantry near me, church food assistance [your city], food distribution near me, or free food [your city]. 

• Gather information: Be ready to provide your location and any personal information needed to qualify for assistance. Ask about protections for the privacy of information that you provide.
• Be aware of eligibility requirements: Some programs may have specific eligibility requirements, such as proof of income, residency, or age. 
• Before you go, double check: the pantry’s hours and other requirements to make sure they are open and can meet your needs.

What can you do to help those in need?

• People with adequate, sustainable incomes can support their neighbors at risk for food scarcity through donations, promotion, and volunteer efforts.
• Concerned residents can also advocate for SNAP by calling Congress (1-646-600-5030).
  • Feeding America urges Congress to pass a debt limit bill for SNAP. The call script can be found here.
• Individuals can also join or help lead community workshops about financial education, food waste and preservation, nutrition education, or cooking. 
• Volunteering at local food drives (e.g., canned food drives), community gardens/farms, or health fairs will also address food insecurity and other associated public health issues. 

Bring your knowledge and manpower to where the communities you want to serve are located.

What is California’s Plan?

• Governor Newsom’s 2025-2026 Budget includes the following:
  
  • Universal School Meals: free breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status
  • SUN Bucks: a summer EBT program for families with eligible school-aged children during the summer
  • Food4All: an expansion of the California Food Assistance Program for older adults (55 years and older)
  • CalFood: an anti-hunger initiative that permits food banks to buy California-grown foods for people in need.
  • CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project: an initiative that incentivizes the purchase of eligible produce, where you receive CalFresh benefit dollars in return for the purchase.
• As of October 22, 2025, Governor Newsom will also deploy the California National Guard to support food banks in California amid the government shutdown.