Proposed federal spending cuts threaten SNAP benefits access in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Big Beautiful Bill making its way through the U.S. legislature could reduce benefits to families already struggling to access healthy food. 

Area food banks and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) are warning the proposed cuts to SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will threaten benefits for 1.4 million North Carolinians.

Hearts and Hands Food Pantry in west Charlotte is working to keep its shelves stocked with healthy food, but potential cuts to food stamps could mean increased demand that will be difficult to meet.

“We’re riding this ’til the wheels fall off,” president of Hearts and Hands Food Pantry in west Charlotte and Board Chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council Kenya Joseph said.

The food pantry is already operating at unprecedented levels, according to Joseph.

“We right now are running at levels significantly higher than anything we’ve seen in COVID already,” she said.  “To put it very starkly and bluntly, cutting SNAP at the level, that the federal government wants to, is an apocalypse for hunger, for food security organizations, for food banks and food pantries.”

The bill is a plan from the Trump administration to cut excess federal spending. If passed, it would require states to pay a portion toward SNAP.

This could be especially difficult for North Carolina, as the General Assembly is clashing over how to deliver the much-needed next round of Helene funding.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released information in May, laying out the impact on western North Carolina, which could be hit especially hard by the cuts.

“So much of our resources are now tied up in trying to rebuild from Helene, rightfully so,” Joseph explained. “So now, we face a potential deficit or a hole in funding.”

The U.S. Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the Big Beautiful Bill, but Republicans hope it will pass before July 4. The food pantry is seeking financial donations to support its operations.

Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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