Officials with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland are sounding the alarm over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is a sweeping federal tax and spending measure now under Senate consideration.
The legislation, already passed by the U.S. House, proposes nearly $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next decade—cuts that FAKH says would be devastating for Kentuckians facing food insecurity.
Serving 42 counties in the Commonwealth, FAKH works with more than 200 partner agencies to distribute millions of pounds of food each year. The organization relies on a combination of donations, grants, and federal programs like SNAP to serve children, families, and seniors in need.
SNAP currently supports 595,200 Kentuckians, including 225,000 children and 73,000 seniors. On average, benefits provide less than $6 per person per day. If H.R. 1 passes as written, FAKH warns that the cuts could eliminate 9.5 billion meals nationwide every year—a gap food banks alone cannot bridge.
According to FAKH officials, studies show that every $1 in SNAP benefits generates up to $1.50 in economic activity—helping keep grocery stores open, paying farmers, and supporting local jobs.
But under the proposed bill, states would also be forced to take on additional program costs. For Kentucky, that would mean an immediate $25 million increase in administrative expenses beginning October 1.
FAKH stresses that hunger is a nonpartisan issue and calls for community members to contact their legislators and urge protection of both SNAP and Medicaid.
The organization believes access to nutritious food is a basic right—and warns the consequences of these cuts would ripple far beyond the dinner table.
