Today, Governor Josh Stein issued a statement addressing proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He emphasized the potential impact on North Carolina, highlighting that “SNAP helps 1.4 million North Carolinians put food on the table.” The proposed reductions would require North Carolina to allocate up to $700 million to maintain current benefits, which Stein argued is intended to provide larger tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
Governor Stein warned of difficult budgetary choices if Congress proceeds with these plans, questioning whether “North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services?” He urged congressional members from North Carolina to oppose the proposal to prevent families in the state from facing hunger.
Currently, SNAP benefits are fully funded by the federal government. However, for the first time in its history, Congress has suggested shifting this financial responsibility onto states. For North Carolina, covering $700 million in SNAP benefits would equate to funding 8,900 K-12 public school teacher positions.
The governor noted that four out of five families receiving SNAP assistance in North Carolina include either a child, a senior citizen, or an adult with a disability. The program not only aids these households but also contributes nearly $2.8 billion annually to the state’s economy. Each dollar spent on groceries through SNAP generates between $1.50 and $1.80 for local economies.
Stein highlighted how SNAP supports more than 9,200 retailers across North Carolina and cautioned that reducing benefits would negatively affect farmers and local economies—particularly in rural areas and small towns.
The program has been crucial for western North Carolinians recovering from Hurricane Helene; enrollment remains higher than before the storm hit in September 2024. Following Helene’s impact, there were 169,000 new applications for SNAP—the highest since Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Last week, Governor Stein sent a letter detailing these concerns and implications if SNAP cuts proceed.
