Liz Wills-O'Gilvie Begins Hunger Strike Over Food Stamp Cuts

Anti-hunger advocate Liz Wills-O'Gilvie has entered a 15-day hunger strike to pressure Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to increase funding for the state's shrinking food stamp program. Wills-O'Gilvie, who directs the Springfield Food Policy Council and Gardening the Community, is protesting rising food insecurity following sweeping cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enacted under President Donald Trump's 2025 tax and spending law.

Federal data from the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that over 5.3 million people nationwide have lost benefits. In Massachusetts, the Department of Transitional Assistance reports a decline in enrollment of nearly 182,000 people, including 65,000 children. Wills-O'Gilvie claims that inaccessible caseworkers and overwhelmed staff are further contributing to the loss of benefits.

Governor Healey has informed Wills-O'Gilvie that she is working on the issue. The protest highlights the tension between federal spending laws and state-level efforts to mitigate food insecurity.