Last updated July 1, 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.
The window of time to oppose these cuts is closing. The federal budget, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has already passed the House of Representatives and voting is now underway in the US Senate. If the bill passes the Senate, it will return to the House for a final vote, which Representatives hope will take place by July 4, 2025.
Please share this information with your friends, family, and network and urge them to take action for our community and our neighbors facing hunger! Then call Congress toll-free at 1-800-708-8229 to help us save CalFresh/SNAP!
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.
- 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. Updated 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. Updated 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: I’ve heard the government is planning to cut Medicaid and CalFresh (SNAP). How will that affect hunger?
On May 22, the House of Representatives passed a budget bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that includes a nearly $300 billion cut to CalFresh (also known as SNAP) and deep cuts to Medicaid.
Update: As of Monday, June 30, the Senate is continuing to debate its own version of the bill. While the Senate has proposed slightly smaller cuts to Cal/FreshSNAP, they would still be the worst in that program’s history. If the Senate approves the bill, it will return to the House for a final vote, where representatives hope to pass it by July 4, 2025.
If these cuts go through…
- 9.5 billion meals will be taken off the table for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children.
- Millions of people will lose some or all of their CalFresh/SNAP benefits, including millions of children, seniors and people with disabilities.
- More seniors, veterans, unhoused neighbors and youth aging out of foster care will be subjected to work requirements, which studies show increase red tape and barriers for neighbors – many of whom are often already working – without improving employment outcomes.
- Nearly 12 million people would lose access to healthcare – even more than in the House version of the budget.
- 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. 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.
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. If our funding for food banks is also cut, we may have to make difficult choices to ensure that we are still able to provide food to all who need it. And support from caring individuals like you will become more critical than ever.
Q: How can I help?
We need to rally our community together to take action and tell Congress we oppose these cuts! Change is possible – the budget bill only passed the House by a single vote.
Here are three ways you can take action:
- Call Congress and urge your legislators to protect SNAP and Medicaid: Call toll-free at 1-800-708-8229 to be connected to your representatives.
- Spread the word. Our community needs to know what’s at stake. Share this blog on social media, talk to your family and friends, and urge others to take action with you today.
