Federal Food Aid Cuts May Disproportionately Impact Black Americans

Black Americans across the country are bracing for a significant reduction in federal food assistance as pandemic-era benefit expansions expire, threatening to deepen existing racial disparities in food security.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is reverting to pre-pandemic funding levels after several years of enhanced benefits that helped millions weather economic hardship during COVID-19. The cuts come at a particularly challenging time, as food prices remain elevated despite easing inflation in other sectors.

For Black households, who historically experience food insecurity at roughly twice the rate of white Americans, the impact could be devastating. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 19.8% of Black households faced food insecurity even before the pandemic, compared to 8.1% of white households.

“These cuts couldn’t come at a worse time,” said Dr. Elaine Waxman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute. “Many families have depleted whatever savings they accumulated during the pandemic, and they’re now facing a perfect storm of rising housing costs, still-high food prices, and reduced benefits.”

The enhanced benefits, which provided an extra $95 or more per month to SNAP recipients, served as a crucial lifeline for families struggling with pandemic-related job losses and economic disruption. With this additional support now gone, food banks across the nation are preparing for a surge in demand that many fear they won’t be able to meet.

In cities with large Black populations like Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta, community organizations are already reporting concerning trends. The Greater Chicago Food Depository has seen a 40% increase in visitors to its network of pantries since the benefit cuts began taking effect.

“We’re seeing people who had just begun to stabilize their situations now being pushed back into crisis,” said Nicole Robinson, executive director of a community food organization in Cleveland. “Many working families were using those extra SNAP dollars to help bridge the gap between paychecks.”

The racial disparities in food security stem from broader systemic inequalities. Black Americans face higher rates of unemployment, lower average wages, and less accumulated wealth than white Americans. These economic disadvantages directly translate to higher rates of food insecurity.

Research from Northwestern University suggests the expanded SNAP benefits during the pandemic had begun to narrow racial gaps in food access. The study found that enhanced benefits reduced food insecurity among Black households by nearly 30%, a more significant impact than among white households.

“What we’re witnessing is the unraveling of one of the pandemic’s few silver linings,” said Marcus Coleman, who directs a food equity initiative in Atlanta. “For a brief moment, we saw what adequate food assistance could do to address longstanding racial disparities.”

The cuts come as part of a broader unwinding of pandemic-era assistance programs. Congressional Republicans have pushed to scale back various forms of pandemic aid, arguing they contribute to inflation and discourage work, while many Democrats have advocated for extending certain programs or implementing more gradual phaseouts.

Public health experts warn that food insecurity has profound consequences beyond hunger itself. Limited access to nutritious food is associated with higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension—conditions that already disproportionately affect Black Americans.

“This is a public health crisis in the making,” said Dr. James Williams, a public health researcher at Howard University. “When families can’t afford nutritious food, they often turn to cheaper, calorie-dense options that contribute to poor health outcomes.”

Some states are attempting to mitigate the impact by using their own funds to supplement federal food assistance, but such efforts vary widely by region. California and New York have implemented state-funded programs to partially offset the federal cuts, while many southern states with large Black populations have not announced similar measures.

Community organizations are calling for a more permanent solution that addresses the root causes of food insecurity among Black Americans, including employment discrimination, wage gaps, and limited access to affordable housing and healthcare.

“We need systemic change,” said Reverend Alvin Thompson, whose church runs a food pantry in Memphis. “While we’ll continue to feed people in need, we can’t donate our way out of structural inequality.”