Trump's Food Aid Cuts Threaten NC Food Banks

The Growing Crisis of Hunger in the United States

As President Donald Trump visited Texas to assess the damage from deadly flooding, a different kind of disaster is unfolding across the nation—rising hunger. While the president appears to ignore this crisis, his policies are exacerbating the situation. One such policy is the "Big, Beautiful Bill," which includes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. This program provides essential monthly food assistance to over 41 million Americans, including 1.4 million people in North Carolina. Most recipients are elderly individuals, children, or disabled persons who rely on this support to make ends meet.

The nation’s food banks are at the forefront of this growing crisis, caught between an increasing demand for aid and the threat of reduced federal funding. Amy Beros, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, described the situation as “dire.” She emphasized that there is no way for food banks or their partners to quickly scale up their efforts if the proposed changes take effect.

The need for food assistance is rising sharply. Over the past three years, the number of people served by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has increased from 450,120 to 607,630. Beros explained that the cost of living has risen faster than wages, leading to widening disparities. Many people are working but still struggling to afford basic necessities like food.

The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina provides millions of meals to residents in 34 counties, but this effort is just a small part of what SNAP offers. For every meal provided by the food bank, SNAP provides nine. Currently, the federal government covers the full cost of SNAP, with states handling administrative expenses. However, Trump’s bill will require states to cover a larger share of the costs after 2026. In North Carolina, this means the state legislature would need to approve at least $400 million in additional spending to maintain the program or risk significant cuts.

These reductions in SNAP benefits could have far-reaching consequences, especially for those who also face losing Medicaid health insurance under the same bill. Without access to healthcare, families will have less money available for food, creating a dangerous cycle of hardship.

In Chatham County, the Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) operates a food pantry that depends on regional food banks, community donations, and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Cuts to USDA programs have already strained resources, and further reductions in SNAP will only increase the demand for food assistance. Melissa Driver Beard, CORA’s executive director, noted that demand has grown by more than 50% since 2023 and is expected to rise by another 40% when a new pantry opens in Siler City.

“We fulfilled 109,000 requests for food this year,” Beard said. “That’s more than the entire population of Chatham County.” She warned that if SNAP is cut, the numbers will skyrocket.

Hunger in the U.S. often goes unnoticed because many people who rely on food stamps and food banks appear to be managing. However, Beard stressed that the issue is widespread and hidden. “It's not something anybody brags about,” she said. “We're doing all we can to raise awareness of it.”

The impact of cutting federal food assistance extends beyond those in need. It will also hurt small grocery stores and reduce income for farmers who sell their crops through food assistance programs. Congress still has time to mitigate the effects of the bill, and Beard hopes lawmakers will act to protect vulnerable communities.

“This problem is not going to go away,” she said. “It's going to get worse if this legislation turns into reality. It's just astonishing to me that we are willing to let people go hungry.”