Have you heard about Trump’s new “One Big Beautiful Bill”? It just passed the House of Representatives and is now heading to the Senate — but there’s big trouble brewing in Wisconsin over it. The bill includes massive changes to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and state officials are sounding the alarm. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the state could lose around $314 million in food assistance if this legislation becomes law.
And it’s not just a small tweak. This bill is more than 1,000 pages long, with proposals to cut $300 billion from the SNAP program nationwide. That’s a lot of lost groceries for folks who rely on food stamps, especially in a state like Wisconsin, where over 700,000 people depend on SNAP.
What’s changing with SNAP
Under the bill, states like Wisconsin would have to start paying part of the cost of SNAP benefits. Until now, the federal government has footed the whole bill. But starting in 2028, states would pay at least 5%, and if their payment error rates are high, it could climb to 25%. Even though Wisconsin has one of the best track records for accuracy, the DHS says they’d still end up paying around 15%, which equals $207 million every year.
That’s not all. The bill also brings in tougher work requirements. Able-bodied adults without dependents would have to show they’re working or volunteering at least 80 hours a month. DHS estimates that enforcing this alone would cost Wisconsin another $44 million annually and could cut 90,000 people off from their food benefits.
Yoz should read this: Which fast food places accept EBT cards in Florida to pay with Food Stamps?
Political tensions rise
Wisconsin is a swing state, and Trump narrowly won it again in the 2024 election. But even here, not everyone’s on board. All six of the state’s Republican House members voted for the bill. The two Democrats opposed it. Interestingly, Representative Derrick Van Orden, who previously said he’d fight cuts to SNAP, ended up voting in favor. He said the bill would restore integrity by making states accountable for benefit errors.
Meanwhile, Bill Hanna, the state’s Medicaid director, warned that the financial burden on the state could be devastating. “We’ve never had to fund SNAP before,” he said. “Now we might have to choose between funding food for families and paying for schools or hospitals.”
Check this article out: Goodbye to CSFP aid for millions of food seniors – These are the “MAHA food boxes” Trump wants to offer in return.
What critics are saying
Think tanks like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities say now is the worst time to shift costs to states. With tax revenues down and budget gaps widening, they argue states can’t afford to pay more for SNAP without cutting elsewhere. 40 states saw their tax revenue drop in 2024 when adjusted for inflation.
Trump, on the other hand, told reporters that these cuts will somehow help families more. “Groceries are down,” he said. “The cut is going to give everybody much more food.”
Here is article that i recommend that you check out: Neither California nor Texas – U.S. state to receive SNAP Payment of 800 euros before May 25.
What’s next?
The bill is now headed to the Senate. It’s likely to face more debate and possible changes before anything becomes law. But if this version stands, Wisconsin — and many other states — could face tough choices, and a lot of families might soon be without the help they need to put food on the table.
