# Federal SNAP cuts, rising prices deepening hunger crisis nationwide  
**Published:** 2026-06-20T08:00:32.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/20/repub/more-americans-are-hungry-in-the-face-of-federal-cuts-rising-grocery-prices/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/federal-snap-cuts-rising-prices-deepening-hunger-crisis-nationwide

Food pantries across the country are running short on basic protein staples as millions of Americans lose access to federal food assistance and grocery prices continue climbing, forcing nonprofits and struggling families to make painful tradeoffs.

The Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry near St. Louis has swapped ground beef and chicken legs for cheaper ground chicken and hot dogs as rising food costs coincide with surging demand. The pantry, which spent about $120,000 on food last year, budgeted $180,000 for 2026—a 50 percent increase that may still prove insufficient, according to Executive Director Angela Gabel.

Nebraska household participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped about 11% between April 2025 and April 2026, mirroring broader national trends. About 7,800 households—or 18,000 individuals—stopped participating over the past year. More than 4 million Americans lost SNAP benefits between February 2025 and February 2026, according to analyses of federal data cited in [an article from the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/20/repub/more-americans-are-hungry-in-the-face-of-federal-cuts-rising-grocery-prices/).

The losses stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last summer by President Donald Trump. The bill cuts federal funding for SNAP by $186 billion through 2034, the largest cut in the program's history. Most adults up to age 64 now must show they are working, volunteering, or participating in a work training program for at least 80 hours a month, and veterans, unhoused people, and former foster youth are now subject to these policies.

The impact extends to Nebraska's budget. Beginning in October 2026, the state's portion of SNAP administrative costs increases to 75 percent, expected to cost up to $13 million. The state's Legislature considered bills this year to protect certain vulnerable populations from the work requirements but the measures did not advance.

"I'm absolutely terrified," Gabel said in the Nebraska Examiner report. "We will absolutely do our best, but I think we were meant to supplement SNAP or to help in emergency situations. I just don't think we can replace the government."

Nebraska Appleseed, an advocacy nonprofit fighting poverty, said the problem demands a federal response. Food access advocates say the decline in SNAP participation reflects policy changes rather than reduced need, with prices rising at grocery stores and gas stations across the country.

About 19.2% of Nebraska children are food insecure, according to advocacy group Voices for Children in Nebraska. Food insecurity among households in Nebraska is higher than the national average, with more than 12% of Nebraska households experiencing difficulty accessing enough food.

Some organizations are trying to fill gaps where they can. A program that doubles the purchasing power of Nebraskans who rely on SNAP and EBT benefits has grown from a few Lincoln locations to over 25 sites across 15 Nebraska communities, matching what SNAP participants spend on fresh fruits and vegetables up to $20 per day.

Congress is currently debating reauthorization of the farm bill, which includes SNAP. Experts expect SNAP participation numbers to drop further in coming months as states more fully implement the bill's eligibility restrictions and grapple with cuts to administrative funding.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/20/repub/more-americans-are-hungry-in-the-face-of-federal-cuts-rising-grocery-prices/)
- [Nebraska Public Media: SNAP participation decline and food insecurity](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-dhhs-data-shows-11-drop-in-snap-recipients-after-federal-legislation-limited-participation/)
- [Food Bank for the Heartland: SNAP changes and Nebraska costs](https://foodbankheartland.org/what-changes-to-snap-mean-for-nebraska/)
- [Nebraska Public Media: Child food insecurity rates](https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/education/article_3be3d006-3621-5946-a045-dca9c0338b60.html)
- [Nebraska Public Media: Double Up Food Bucks program](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraskas-double-up-food-bucks-program-nears-a-decade-of-fighting-food-insecurity/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/20/repub/more-americans-are-hungry-in-the-face-of-federal-cuts-rising-grocery-prices/.