As Congress prepares to finalize a sweeping tax and spending bill backed by President Trump, food banks across Alabama are preparing for a surge in need. If the legislation becomes law, major cuts to social welfare programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid could leave millions without essential support.
Rising Need at Local Level
Linda Jones, co-founder of Alabama Childhood Food Solutions, already sees troubling signs. Her organization currently provides weekly food assistance to nearly 2,600 children and supports about 1,200 families, more than doubling its outreach compared to last year. “It’s just growing by leaps and bounds,” she says. “And if this new bill gets passed, which I feel like it probably will, we will probably start doubling even more so.”
Food Prices, SNAP Cuts Driving Insecurity
Jones reports that high grocery prices have made food stamps inadequate. “We’ve had people come in and say their benefits only cover bread and milk,” she explains. The rest they must get from local charities. The CBO estimates that millions could lose food assistance if the bill passes the House, having already cleared the Senate with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance.
Overview of Key Budget Provisions
The bill makes Trump-era tax cuts permanent and introduces severe restrictions on social services. Among the most debated elements:
- Medicaid Work Requirements: Childless adults must work 80 hours per month starting December 2026. Re-enrollment periods will double.
- SNAP Reform: States must help fund SNAP if their error rate exceeds 6%. Able-bodied adults without dependents must meet new work requirements.
- Social Security Changes: A temporary increase in the standard deduction for seniors.
- Tip and Overtime Exemptions: New tax deductions for tipped and overtime workers, phased out for higher earners.
Food Insecurity a Growing Threat
According to the Feeding America network, demand for food assistance has risen nationally, especially in rural states like Alabama. Cuts to federal food programs could deepen the strain on charitable organizations, especially as inflation and utility costs squeeze household budgets.
“This bill targets the most vulnerable,” says Jones. “When you start cutting back on SNAP, you’re cutting off a lifeline.”
Rural Hospitals and Clean Energy Also Hit
The bill’s Medicaid cuts could significantly impact rural hospitals, with new restrictions on provider taxes and eligibility. At the same time, clean energy tax credits will be phased out, though Senate Republicans opted for a slower timeline than the House version.
What Comes Next?
The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk, with a signing ceremony scheduled for July 4. While his administration claims victory, critics warn the legislation may worsen inequality and deepen economic hardship for working-class Americans.
“We’re preparing for the worst,” Jones says. “But I hope Congress and the President realize what’s really at stake here. This isn’t politics. This is survival.”
