State Budget Office memo details how federal budget pushed by Republicans in Congress will cost Michigan $900 million, threaten benefits for nearly 15% of population, increase hunger, harm retailers, worsen health outcomes for kids and families

LANSING, MI - On June 4, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted the impact of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a critical food assistance program, on Michiganders. Republicans in the U.S. House have jammed through a nearly $300 billion cut to SNAP in their budget, a move that will take away food benefits from families who need it most, increasing hunger across Michigan in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between.   

“No one should go to bed hungry in Michigan or anywhere in wealthiest, most powerful country in the world,” said Governor Whitmer. “Right now, Republicans in Congress are rushing through a nearly $300 billion cut to SNAP, which 42 million Americans rely on to feed themselves and their kids. They’re jamming these cuts into a bill that also guts Medicaid, terminating health care for millions of our most vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors while ******* up costs on everyone. In Michigan, we will fight to make sure our kids and families are fed, but we need Republicans in our congressional delegation to step up for their own constituents who need SNAP and Medicaid to survive. If these cuts are signed into law, more Michiganders will go to bed hungry. That’s unacceptable. We should making it easier for families to afford the essentials, like food and health care, not harder.” 

“SNAP is a lifeline for countless Michiganders, helping lower costs and put food on the table,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Cutting this essential program would jack up costs on those who are most vulnerable and force families to make devastating decisions about which bills to pay and how to feed their kids in the face of unaffordable prices. Governor Whitmer and I will keep Standing Tall to protect the resources that Michiganders need.” 

“The cruel, draconian cuts to SNAP in the Republican budget package would be devastating for children and families here in Michigan and across the country,” said Elyssa Schmier, Vice President of Government Relations and National Budget at MomsRising and Michigander. “At a time when food costs are skyrocketing, Republicans want to rip critical food assistance away from more than 300,000 people in Michigan, all to pay for more tax breaks for billionaires and wealthy corporations. That’s unconscionable. These cuts would cause more children to go hungry, make it even harder for families to pay for essentials, and wreak enormous havoc to farmers and our economy. Moms reject this reconciliation package's upside-down priorities and will continue to fight for a national budget that puts the needs of working families first.” 

“Feeding America West Michigan is very concerned about the current federal budget negotiations as it relates to proposed cuts to food assistance programs,” said Ken Estelle, President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan. “Reducing funding for SNAP as well as increased requirements will cause a significant increase in the number of Michiganders seeking food assistance from our food bank. We have experienced very high levels of need for food assistance for the past several years, and the potential increase in need because of these budget cuts could well exceed our ability to provide food to everyone in need. In addition, reductions in funding for commodity programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), could reduce the food available to food banks at the very time we see the increased need – a perfect storm.” 

"Reduced funding and increased restrictions for SNAP will put unnecessary strain on families, individuals, and young children,” said Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. “Many are already facing higher costs at the grocery store, along with the growing price of housing, childcare, and healthcare. More families will be skipping meals, falling behind on rent, and giving up other essentials to try and make ends meet. When families and individuals are unable to qualify for SNAP, or when their benefits are reduced, they'll turn to food pantries for support. This sharp increase in food insecurity will impact food banks like Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes by raising the demand for grocery assistance." 

“For many residents, particularly children and the elderly, SNAP is not merely a supplemental aid; it is a critical lifeline that ensures they have access to the food they need for survival and growth, said Pastor Dr. Monique French of Washington Heights United Methodist Church & Community. “Taking away this support could push families deeper into a cycle of poverty, forcing them to make impossible choices between paying for food or other essential expenses like housing and healthcare. Furthermore, the emotional toll of financial stress can lead to increased anxiety and diminished quality of life.  In a community where hope and resilience are already stretched thin, these SNAP cuts represent not just a financial blow but an assault on the dignity and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. We must recognize that supporting these families is an investment in the future of our community, and advocate for policies that ensure all residents can thrive.” 

“The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity stands in firm and righteous outrage at the cruel and unconscionable cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps,” said Pastor Richard R. White III, President of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity. “These cuts will rip vital support away from countless Michiganders—children, seniors, working families, and the most vulnerable among us—at a time when they need it most. For those we serve, who already struggle to put food on the table, this is not just a policy decision—it is a moral failure. We are appalled that Republicans in the U.S. House have pushed through a $300 billion reduction to SNAP funding, an act that will undeniably deepen hunger and hardship across our state—from Detroit’s neighborhoods to rural communities. This decision is a direct assault on the dignity and survival of millions of Americans. We call on all people of conscience to oppose these cuts and demand policies that uplift, not abandon, those most in need.” 

“The budget passed by the House of Representatives has been labeled by some as ‘big and beautiful,’” said Rev. Cindy Rudolph, Senior Pastor of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Michigan. “However, there is nothing beautiful about cutting SNAP benefits—which will have a devastating impact on children and families and increase food insecurity. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. argued that budgets are moral documents; they demonstrate who and what is prioritized and deemed valuable. This budget reveals a wanton disregard for our most vulnerable citizens and falls woefully short of being beautiful.” 

“As a SNAP-Ed educator, I see the critical role this program plays in improving health outcomes in our most vulnerable communities,” said Melissa Lance, Program Manager of Neighborhood Impact at the Crim Fitness Foundation. “Through partnerships with schools, senior centers, housing sites, and community hubs, SNAP-Ed equips people with the knowledge to make healthy, cost-effective choices, reducing long-term healthcare costs and addressing the root causes of hunger. Eliminating this program would reverse years of progress and hurt people who need help. I urge Michigan’s representatives in Washington to protect SNAP-Ed. It works—and it matters.” 

SNAP Cuts Impact 

Yesterday, the Michigan State Budget Office (SBO) released a memo calculating the total cost of the congressional bill under consideration to Michigan at $900 million, including massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Nearly 15% of Michiganders, almost 1.5 million people across every region, receive SNAP benefits. More than 59% are families with children, 39% are families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and 41,000 are veterans, around 10% of our total veteran population. Data also shows that 67% of SNAP recipients are covered by Medicaid, meaning the legislation being moved through Congress could threaten both the health care and food access of nearly 950,000 Michiganders. 

SNAP is an effective program that has lifted 232,000 people above the poverty line in Michigan, including 101,000 children. SNAP dollars are spent at approximately 9,800 retail locations across the state, supporting jobs and local economies across the state.   

We know that using SNAP leads to fewer missed days of work, fewer doctor’s visits, better mental health, and healthier birthweight for babies whose moms who have access to food benefits during pregnancy. Seniors who use SNAP are less likely to need hospitalization, less likely to be admitted to a nursing home, and more likely to actually use the medications they are prescribed.  

Most working-age adults who receive SNAP supplement their low wages with SNAP or receive SNAP when they’re temporarily out of work. Many work in low-paid jobs with unpredictable hours. Taking SNAP away will hurt workers who are between jobs, work in industries that don’t provide a consistent number of hours per week, or get lost in the burdensome, red-tape-filled-process of documenting their work hours.   

Michigan Hunger Stats:

•  13.0% of households were “food insecure,” meaning their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.
• 13.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.
• 17.6% of children lived in families below the poverty line.
• 10.6% of older adults lived below the poverty line.

Medicaid Cuts Impact 

Executive Directive 2025-3 from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer directed MDHHS to identify the potential impact Republican-proposed cuts to Medicaid would have on Michiganders’ health.  

• Seniors: Medicaid covers 168,000 seniors, ensuring they have access to the critical care, prescription drugs, and medical procedures they need to stay safe and healthy. Michigan’s nursing homes receive over $3 billion in Medicaid funding per year, and three in five nursing room residents are on Medicaid. Proposed cuts would gut funding directly from Michigan nursing homes.
• Pregnant Women: Medicaid covers 45% of births statewide and provides thousands of pregnant women access to critical prenatal care, prescriptions, and procedures, helping them stay safe and healthy. The proposed cuts would affect Michigan hospitals, limiting their ability to provide care to pregnant women across the state. Specifically, expecting moms would have reduced access to services like regular checkups, screenings, and counseling, negatively impacting their ability to have a healthy and safe pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
• Rural Areas: Medicaid cuts would have a disproportionate impact on Michigan’s rural areas where over 60% of births are covered by Medicaid. Proposed reductions threaten essential labor and delivery services, putting pregnant women in unnecessary danger by requiring them to drive further and spend more just to access care.
• Michiganders with Disabilities: Medicaid covers 300,000 people with disabilities, ensuring they have access to the critical care, prescription drugs, and medical procedures they need to stay safe and healthy. Many Michiganders with disabilities rely on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) providers which receive more than $1.5 billion in Medicaid dollars each year. The services they provide range from personal care and counseling to energy assistance, and transportation. Proposed cuts could gut millions of dollars from HCBS, threatening Michiganders with disabilities who rely on these providers to prevent costly hospitalizations or avoid institutional placements.

Medicaid’s Impact on Michigan's Economy  

Medicaid plays a key role in supporting the health of Michigan's economy. Michigan’s health care industry has a total economic impact of $77 billion per year: greater than any other industry in the state. Medicaid expansion alone sparked the creation of more than 30,000 new jobs. These jobs boost the personal spending power for Michigan residents by about $2.3 billion each year, resulting in an estimated $150 million in tax revenue annually.   

If Republicans succeed, Michigan hospitals could lose out on half a billion dollars in Medicaid funding annually, threatening thousands of jobs. As a result, hospitals in local and rural communities across Michigan will close, threatening access to care, raising prices, and forcing people to drive further for health care. This could drive Michiganders out of our state, reducing our population growth and crippling our economy.