CONTACT: Justin Henry / jhenry@rubenstein.com / 908.448.8397
For Immediate Release
(NEW YORK, NY – November 11, 2026) Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York, issued this statement after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposal to further limit SNAP eligibility, which could restrict benefits for thousands of New York families:
“The USDA’s proposal to eliminate broad-based categorical eligibility is an attack on New York families working to put food on the table. More than 270,000 New Yorkers have already lost SNAP benefits since Congress passed historic cuts to the program last summer. This proposal, along with the other harmful policies to weaken nutrition programs, will only worsen our hunger crisis.
“Broad-based categorical eligibility helps states like New York cut through red tape in administering SNAP, lower administrative costs, and reduce payment error rates – goals that are even more important in light of Congress’ structural changes to the program. It’s a key tool to support and incentivize work, which is a bipartisan priority, and it eases the benefit cliff by giving working families room to modestly grow their earnings and build savings without abruptly losing their grocery benefits. With food costs and other living expenses at an all-time high, our leaders should be building a bridge that helps families achieve greater economic stability, not pulling the rug out from under them as they make progress.
“The consequences of eliminating the policy don’t stop at the grocery store. SNAP also connects eligible children to free school meals and summer nutrition programs and streamlines access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Restricting SNAP eligibility means restricting access to all these other programs, compounding the impact on kids, pregnant women, and new moms.
“The USDA must act to protect kids by preserving this effective policy. Furthermore, Congress must stand up for these families by preventing additional SNAP cuts from going into effect and strengthening nutrition programs for the future so that every New York kid gets the fuel they need at home and at school to reach their full potential.”
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