On the Ground Report: Federal Impacts in North Dakota
By: Prairie Action North Dakota Institute
June 26, 2025
SNAP is On the Chopping Block
Congress is pushing a massive budget bill—and SNAP, which helps nearly 49,000 North Dakotans buy groceries, is still on the chopping block.
The House version cuts $290 billion from SNAP over 10 years. The Senate tried to shift costs onto states, which would’ve slashed benefits even more—but that move was blocked.
Still, lawmakers are pushing “reforms” that shrink benefits and limit who qualifies—all to help pay for $3.7 trillion in tax cuts.
SNAP isn’t broken. It’s working—and it’s vital to North Dakota families, farmers, and food banks.
What SNAP Means for North Dakota
Nearly 1 in 10 North Dakotans—including thousands of kids and seniors—depend on SNAP to afford groceries.
If Congress cuts funding, more people could face hunger and homelessness. Food banks are already stretched thin and warn the need will only grow.
“If SNAP benefits disappear, we’ll see the homeless population increase.” Dream Center Bismarck
SNAP also boosts our economy. Last year alone, it brought in $111 million to North Dakota, helping rural grocery stores and communities stay afloat.
Who Gets Hurt the Most?
If SNAP is cut, kids and seniors—who make up more than half of those served by food banks—will be among the hardest hit.
Low-income workers are also in the crosshairs. Many already work full-time (or more) and still can’t afford rent, food, and healthcare. Cutting SNAP doesn’t “incentivize work”—it just punishes people who are already doing everything they can.
And the impact won’t stop there. Rural communities, where SNAP supports local grocers and keeps dollars circulating, would feel the economic hit.
This isn’t just a policy change. It’s a direct threat to families, neighborhoods, and local economies across North Dakota.
The Real Agenda: Cut SNAP to Fund Tax Breaks
Let’s be clear: SNAP isn’t being cut because it’s broken. It’s being cut to help pay for $3.7 trillion in tax breaks.
Lawmakers are trying to frame these changes as “efficiency” or “accountability”—but the math doesn’t lie. SNAP cuts make up a huge share of the so-called “savings” in this budget.
One scrapped proposal would’ve forced states to cover SNAP costs if their “error rates” were too high—threatening eligibility for thousands. That alone would’ve cut $100–$132 billion from food assistance.
The bottom line? These cuts aren’t about fixing SNAP. They’re about shifting costs to states and families so billionaires get a tax break.
The Bottom Line
SNAP is one of the most effective anti-hunger tools we have—and it’s under attack.
Lawmakers are trying to frame these cuts as “accountability” and “fiscal responsibility.” But the truth is simple: these cuts would hurt real people—kids, seniors, working families—and they’re being used to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.
If SNAP is gutted, the impact in North Dakota will be immediate and severe. Families will go hungry. Food banks will be overwhelmed. And small-town economies will take the hit.
This fight isn’t over. But we need to act—now.
Sources:
Food and Research & Action Center, June 12, 2025
Food and Research & Action Center, June 17, 2025
Public News Service, June 23, 2025
Fargo Forum, June 23, 2025
Hays Post, June 24, 2025
Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry, June 24, 2025
The American Prospect, June 24, 2025
