Over 200 Mayors Urge Congress to Reverse SNAP Cuts

More than 200 mayors across the United States, representing Democratic, Republican, and independent parties, signed a bipartisan letter urging Congress to reverse cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Organized through the United States Conference of Mayors, the group called on the Senate Agriculture Committee to reject restrictions and funding shifts established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1).

The United States Conference of Mayors reports that over 4 million people have already lost benefits due to the Act's new eligibility requirements and a mandate requiring states to fund benefits if payment error rates exceed 6%. Mayors argue that with a national average error rate of approximately 11%, the 6% threshold is unattainable by the October 1, 2027 deadline. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins defended the measures, claiming that error rate data proves state accountability is lacking.

Local impacts are evident in states like Kentucky, where the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy reports that 42,870 residents lost benefits between October 2025 and May 2026. In Floyd County, recipients dropped from 9,228 to 8,607, a decline attributed to expanded work reporting and revised rules for lawfully present immigrants. The mayors are requesting the protection of benefit levels and advocating for Puerto Rico's transition to SNAP to ensure equitable nutrition access.