Last updated July 7, 2025
You may have heard on the news that government funding cuts are impacting the Food Bank – and more cuts to social safety net programs could be on the way. But with so many program names and acronyms involved, it can be tough to get a clear picture of what’s going on.
We wanted to answer some of the questions supporters like you have been asking, and share how these cuts could impact our work and the community we all share.
UPDATE (July 7, 2025): On July 3, 2025, Congress gave its final approval to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which contains the largest cut to CalFresh/SNAP in the program’s history, as well as a $1 trillion cut to Medicare. These cuts will have a significant negative impact on our community – read more below.
Please share this information with your friends, family, and network. Now that these cuts have gone through, community support is more critical than ever.
Q: I’ve heard the government has cut Medicaid and CalFresh (SNAP). How will that affect hunger?
UPDATE (July 7, 2025): On July 3, 2025, Congress finalized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes the largest cut to CalFresh/SNAP in the program’s history, and a $1 trillion cut to Medicare. This bill will significantly increase hunger in our community over the next several years.
- As many as 9 billion meals will be taken off the table for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children. To put this in perspective, food banks across America distributed about 6 billion meals last year. These cuts to SNAP will more than double the need food banks are already facing.
- Millions of people will lose some or all of their CalFresh/SNAP benefits, including millions of children, seniors and people with disabilities.
- More seniors, parents, veterans, unhoused neighbors and youth aging out of foster care will be subjected to new red tape requirements which will made it harder to access and keep benefits.
- Nearly 12 million people will lose access to healthcare by 2034 due to a $1 trillion cut to Medicare, and even more will see their coverage reduced.
- Thousands of jobs will be lost in the grocery and agricultural sectors, as neighbors are forced to shift or reduce their grocery-buying to make ends meet.
In addition to CalFresh/SNAP and Medicaid, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is also at risk for cuts. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act does not directly cut WIC, the federal government has proposed eliminating a benefit used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for kids under five, as well as pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding moms. And eligibility changes to SNAP will also make it harder for many low-income moms and young children to access WIC.
Q: What government funding programs are at risk for cuts – and what do they help the Food Bank do?
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – DISRUPTED
This USDA program helps us provide nutritious food to our neighbors in need through our direct distributions and our network partners. Already, 11 truckloads of food have been canceled, and the program is at risk for further cuts. UPDATE (July 7, 2025): Funding for this program remains flat in the One Big Beautiful Bill, despite historic cuts to SNAP that will massively increase the need for food banks.
- Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) — CANCELED
This federal program helped us purchase fresh produce from California farmers for our Farm 2 Kids program, supporting small farms and childhood nutrition. Federal funding has been canceled.
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program – CANCELED
These federal grant funds supported our nonprofit agency partners, as well as Food Bank programs that meet the nutritional needs of children and seniors. These funds have been canceled.
- Community Development Block Grant – AT RISK IN FEDERAL BUDGET
This grant funding provides fresh produce at high-need Senior Food program sites in Contra Costa County, and supports the Kids Nutrition on Weekends program. It has been targeted for cancellation.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) – AT RISK IN FEDERAL BUDGET
This federal program provides boxes of shelf-stable goods to seniors. It has been targeted for cancellation. UPDATE (June 30, 2025): The House Appropriations Committee has approved an Agricultural funding bill that would maintain funding for CSFP. However, voting on this bill has not yet taken place, and cuts to this program remain a possibility. - CalFood – SAVED BY YOU!
This state program helps us purchase food from farmers and producers in California. The Governor’s May Revision budget would cut this program by more than $50 million, a nearly 90% cut. UPDATE (June 30, 2025): Thanks to advocacy from hunger fighters like you, California Legislators added full funding for CalFood back into the state budget, which was signed by Governor Newsom on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Q: What does this mean for The Food Bank?
Many neighbors never visit their local food bank, because programs like Medicaid, WIC, and CalFresh allow them to stretch their budget.
Without these options, more people will need to turn to the Food Bank and our partners in order to feed their loved ones and themselves. This increase in need will stretch our resources to the limit and we may have to make difficult choices to ensure that we are still able to provide food to all who need it. Support from caring individuals like you will become more critical than ever.
Q: How can I help?
- Share this news with your friends and family. These cuts will have a profound impact on our community over the coming years. The Food Bank will see levels of need that we have never faced in our 50 years of service. Support and awareness from caring community members like you is going to be more critical than ever as we face the challenges ahead.
- Join our Nourish 365 monthly giving club. In today’s uncertain climate, our monthly donors are a community safety net! Their reliable gifts give us a solid foundation to plan for the challenges ahead, while helping us provide the food our neighbors need daily. And due to lower administrative costs, monthly gifts provide even more meals! Learn more.
