Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025 – Bread for the World issued the following statement on final passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump. The statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.
“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the United States’ most important anti-hunger program. Each month 42 million people rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Forty percent of SNAP recipients are children.
“Medicaid provides health care for roughly 70 million low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans, as well as nearly half of all children in the United States. Studies show that households with children who participate in Medicaid experience significant reductions in food insecurity.
“We need to be clear eyed and honest – this bill’s passage will significantly increase hunger in the United States. The unprecedented funding cuts enacted in the bill will bring harm to children, families, and vulnerable adults. Additionally, these cuts will have a ripple effect, impacting farmers, small business owners, hospitals, and even entire communities.”
The budget reconciliation bill, which is about to become law, cuts SNAP funding by close to $200 billion over ten years. The bulk of the funding cuts come from pushing a portion of SNAP costs on to states, expanding strict work requirements, and banning refugees and others here lawfully for humanitarian reasons from receiving SNAP. Close to 3 million people could lose their SNAP benefits. The new law will also freeze future benefit increases through the Thrifty Food Plan.
The bill cuts Medicaid funding by $1 trillion and makes significant changes to the program – including adding additional work requirements. An estimated 17 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage now that the bill has passed.
Over the past several months, Bread has worked tirelessly to stop the steep SNAP and Medicaid funding cuts. Bread members and supporters have sent tens of thousands of emails, held hundreds of congressional meetings, and made numerous phone calls urging their members of Congress to reject the cuts.
“God calls on us to care for our neighbors in need. This bill fails that test. Bread will not stop until Congress restores full funding for these vital programs,” added Cho.
