Food Lifeline co-hosted a community forum with Senator Patty Murray on May 15, bringing together Washington hunger relief organizations to discuss the impact of cuts to federal nutrition programs and proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Representatives from Food Lifeline, Washington Food Coalition, Second Harvest, Northwest Harvest, Harvest Against Hunger, Feeding the Northwest, EastWest Food Rescue, and the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, came together to plan the event and invite community members to share their stories.
Food pantries, farmers, and SNAP beneficiaries from across Washington state shared the challenges they are facing amid recent cuts by the Trump administration to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. They described the hardships caused by funding suddenly pulled from food banks and schools to purchase locally-produced food and looming cuts to the SNAP. Americorps cuts have also impacted staffing at many organizations.
Together, these stories provided a stark snapshot of the current state of hunger in Washington State. Inflation and the rising costs of living squeeze community members’ grocery budgets. Food banks are struggling to meet the increasing need just as federal funding for food programs are cut, and are racing to fill revenue gaps through donations. And now, the threat of massive SNAP cuts looms.
Republicans’ reconciliation legislation—which only requires a simple majority to pass in both the House and Senate—would cut SNAP by $300 billion, the largest cut in history.
These cuts to USDA and SNAP come at a critical time, as the state has been experiencing a rise in food insecurity since the pandemic, with one in four Washingtonians utilizing food banks in 2024, up from one in five the previous year. Children and seniors are particularly affected by food insecurity in Washington state, with more than 500,000 children experiencing food insecurity in the last year, and nearly 10% of seniors.
My family relied on food stamps briefly when I was a kid—our country had our back, and all seven of us kids grew up to give back to our communities in different ways. As you all know, Washington state has one of the strongest, most inclusive SNAP programs in the country. So you can bet I am going to continue to be one of its strongest champions in Congress.
-Senator Patty Murray
Senator Murray has a long history of championing nutrition policy. She led the more than decade-long fight to establish Summer EBT. The program officially launched in 2024, with 37 states participating, including Washington state. Nearly 600,000 children in Washington state received Summer EBT—also known as SUN Bucks—last summer.
Last week, Senator Murray introduced bicameral legislation to expand the Summer EBT program to include periods when schools are closed or operating remotely for five or more consecutive weekdays, and provide funding to help states implement the Summer EBT program more effectively.
“At EastWest Food Rescue, we see every day how layered and fragile our food system truly is, from farmers facing uncertainty to families struggling with hunger. We are deeply grateful to Senator Murray for taking the time to prioritize this complex issue and for recognizing that real solutions require collaboration across sectors.”
“The Washington Food Coalition supports our state’s network of food banks and pantries, which are facing unprecedented demand as food insecurity is on the rise. SNAP is the first and best defense against hunger, but the proposed House cuts would do lasting damage to families and communities and overwhelm our food banks.”
“At a time when food insecurity remains at alarming levels across our state, our elected representation needs to strengthen our hunger relief systems, not dismantle them. We’re grateful for Senator Murray’s steadfast leadership and commitment to protecting these vital programs that serve as a lifeline for our communities.”
“It’s so good to see you all. I know this is not an easy moment—not for Washington state families, and not for all of you. You all are on the frontlines serving people in our communities, keeping them fed when times are tough. And that has been especially crucial in recent years.
“A quarter of people in Washington state used a food bank last year and visits have jumped to 13 million a year. But despite the crucial role you play serving our communities you all have unfortunately had a front row seat to a lot of pointless, lawless chaos President Trump has caused.
“I know this has turned your work upside down; grants being frozen, cancelled, and unfrozen; tariffs being throttled and reversed; and the threat of painful cuts in just about every proposal Republicans put forward. I have visited food banks, and heard from families and from some of you, about how this has already been incredibly harmful. I am listening—and more than that I am fighting for you. My goal is to lift your stories up, put a spotlight on these problems, and get these disastrous policies reversed.
“We have seen a few times now that when we push back hard, when we speak up loud, when we name and shame the harms that Trump is causing we can get them to back down, and reverse course—at least while the pressure stays on. Some grants have gotten moving again. Some cuts and firings are being reversed. Tariffs are being walked back a little, though Trump is still committed to an expensive trade war.
“But the fight is not over. Not by a long shot, because for every small retreat, we have seen Trump launch another devastating attack on our social safety net. If we needed any more proof Trump is still trying to take food off the shelves at food banks and off families’ dinner tables all you need to do is look at the bill Republicans are marking up right now, which includes the biggest SNAP cut in history—$230 billion over the next decade. We should not be cutting off food assistance so Trump can cut his fellow billionaires a massive check.
“These cuts won’t make things more efficient. They won’t solve any problems. They just take food away from people who need it most. Investing in nutrition assistance? Investing in SNAP? That’s an investment in people. My family relied on food stamps briefly when I was a kid. Our country had our back, and all seven of us kids grew up to give back to our communities in different ways.
“This shouldn’t even need saying, but if Republicans won’t listen to common sense and common decency, then we are going to get a megaphone and shout it from the roof tops: ‘Hands off SNAP!’
“As you all know, Washington state has one of the strongest, most inclusive SNAP programs in the country. So you can bet I am going to continue to be one of its strongest champions in Congress. I am not going to stand by while Republicans push families off this program and slash it to ribbons. I am not going to be quiet as they take food from our kids’ mouths. I am standing up. I am getting loud. And I am making your voices heard.
“We are going to fight for SNAP and for our families.”