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I’ve been lucky that my family has never needed SNAP, but I’ve come to understand how essential this program is for thousands of people right here in Maine. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities put food on the table. More than 170,000 Mainers receive SNAP benefits.
Despite this, recent political decisions have put SNAP at risk. The OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) made harmful cuts to SNAP. Leaders claim fraud, waste, and abuse, yet the government reports high payment accuracy. This means that at least 95 percent of benefits reach families and children who need it. That’s not a failing program; it’s a solid A+ in my book.
If these cuts continue, millions will struggle to afford food in Maine and across the country. SNAP keeps food in lunchboxes and meals on the table. Cutting it doesn’t save money. It forces parents to skip meals, takes food off children’s plates, and leaves veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities in fear of going hungry. Cutting SNAP when the cost of groceries, housing, and utilities continue to rise will only strain family budgets and food pantries further.
What is the long-term cost of putting the health and well-being of families and kids at risk?
Congress must reverse these cuts immediately.
Michael Willett
Eliot
