This article originally appeared on NYTimes.com
NEW YORK, June 23, 2025 — Proposed federal cuts to SNAP totaling nearly $295 billion over the next decade could devastate hunger relief efforts across New York City, shifting a quarter of program costs to states and placing a $1.8 billion burden on New York alone.
Food Bank For New York City leaders are sounding the alarm. “This void is insurmountable,” said Zac Hall, SVP of Programs. Nicole Hunt, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, called the changes—shifting 25% of costs to states and tightening eligibility—“an existential threat to the idea of SNAP being a safety net.”
With pantry visits up 85% since 2019 and more than 65% of clients working, Food Bank For NYC warns these cuts could push an already strained system to the brink. At the Food Bank For NYC Community Kitchen in Harlem, 75-year-old Delcina Williams relies on monthly groceries to make ends meet. “What are we supposed to do?” she asks.
In a city where nearly 1.3 million people face food insecurity, the stakes have never been higher.