At RI Community Food Bank & EPI’s virtual town hall, RI delegation hears how harmful Republican cuts would negatively impact food pantries, schools, and local farmers and strategizes with nutrition assistance advocates to put food on the table, help the economy, and prevent RIers from falling into poverty
WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration arbitrarily cuts and freezes critical assistance for food pantries, schools, and local farmers, Rhode Island food banks and school nutrition advocates are preparing for the fallout: increased childhood hunger, more struggling families, and a shift in burdens from the federal government to local schools, governments, and non-profits.
Today, all four members of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation joined the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Economic Progress Institute (EPI) for a virtual town hall to discuss the evolving situation and help food pantries and soup kitchens strategically plan for the future.
During the public forum, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo discussed how the Trump Administration is putting food assistance on the chopping block and outlined their opposition to proposed Republican cuts to essential programs that Rhode Islanders rely on like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as Medicaid, and other core government services.
They noted that this week, the Trump administration moved to cut another $1 billion for food aid by cancelling the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program which provided funding for states to purchase food from local farmers and fishers for hunger relief distribution and the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement Program which provided funding for the purchase of local foods to be used in school meals. Farm Fresh RI operated these programs in Rhode Island and the Trump Administration cancellation means Rhode Island schools and food pantries will lose roughly $3 million in nutrition assistance funding.
“In their quest to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires, the Trump Administration is cutting food aid to children, schools, and food banks and increasing poverty. Restricting food purchases from local farmers and producers undercuts good nutrition and the local supply chain while taking money out of the local economy. These short-sighted cuts cost taxpayers more in the long run because children who lack nutrition and health care become less productive adults and we need healthy, productive Americans to continue to move America forward. Forcing people to go hungry isn’t a solution, it is a major mistake that must be corrected and I will continue working to retain and restore funding for school meals and nutrition assistance to feed the hungry,” said Senator Jack Reed.
“In the House budget resolution, Republicans targeted $880 billion in cuts to the account that includes Medicaid. You can’t get to that number without enormous cuts to Medicaid,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. “This attack on Medicaid hits real people, in real ways. I’m committed to doing everything in my power to protect Medicaid for the Rhode Islanders who rely on it.”
“Nutrition and health care programs are under attack by this administration, threatening lifelines that so many Rhode Islanders rely on, all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “During today’s town hall, we highlighted the devastating impact of these cuts and reinforced our commitment to protecting food assistance, health care, and other critical resources for working people. We will never back down in the fight to stop reckless cuts that hurt Rhode Islanders.”
“The speed, scope, and scale with which Donald Trump is working to dismantle our government and make life harder for everyday Americans is unprecedented. From Medicaid to school meals, the Administration is exhibiting an enormous amount of cruelty in seeking to slash the social safety net and transfer even more wealth from the working class to the richest 1%,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Our delegation is fighting back through education, agitation, litigation, and legislation — and we’ll continue pushing until we stop this madness in its tracks and undo the damage that’s been done.”
“With all the chaos originating in Washington, it’s understandable to be afraid, but fear and despair are not our only options,” said Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute. “We have the options of calling out injustice, presenting facts to clearly show what the consequences of malicious policies will be, and fighting for equitable state budget solutions to reduce harm against Rhode Islanders. The Economic Progress Institute appreciates that our entire Congressional Delegation shares and is fighting for these same values, and we salute the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s resolute advocacy in fighting food insecurity, hunger, and poverty in our state.”
“If these cuts come to fruition, it will have a catastrophic impact on Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents, as well as on the local economy,” said Andrew Schiff, CEO of Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “ We’re so grateful to the congressional delegation for their leadership in pushing against these damaging cuts.”
BACKGROUND
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, promoting long-term health and well-being, especially for children. Research shows SNAP reduces poverty and food insecurity, and that over the long-term, these impacts lead to improved health and economic outcomes, especially for those who receive SNAP as children. The average SNAP benefit hovers around just $6 per person per day. But it helps provide food security for 144,000 Rhode Islanders. SNAP supports local businesses, including 938 retailers, which redeemed a total of $370,590,580 in 2023. Retailers include grocery stores and farmers’ markets, which contribute to local taxes that fund services like schools and health care.
Medicaid is the leading program that provides comprehensive care to millions of Americans, including more than 300,000 Rhode Islanders — including adults with disabilities, nursing home residents, children, mothers and newborns, and Medicare beneficiaries. In 2023, Rhode Island received $2.17 billion in Medicaid funding — accounting for 41 percent of all federal funding delivered to the Ocean State.
The Republican budget resolution directs specific committees to achieve spending cuts or increases. Republicans’ leaked menu of options include:
- At least $880 billion in cuts for the Energy and Commerce Committee, which could target Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium assistance, and repeal Inflation Reduction Act policies.
- At least $330 billion in cuts for the Education and Workforce Committee, which could target student loan programs, income driven repayment, and Pell grants, Head Start, and School lunch.
- At least $230 billion in cuts for the Agriculture Committee, which could target SNAP.
- Up to $4.5 trillion in new spending for the Ways and Means Committee, which could include tax cuts for the top one percent, at the expense of average Americans.
