Press Release  Governor Healey Calls on President Trump to Continue SNAP Benefits

Boston — Governor Maura Healey is today calling on President Donald Trump to reverse his unprecedented decision to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. More than 1.1 million Massachusetts residents rely on SNAP to afford food – 32 percent are children, 26 percent are seniors, and 31 percent are people with disabilities. Local businesses and farmers also get business through the program. President Trump has chosen to not send SNAP benefits beginning November 1st. Even during previous federal government shutdowns, Presidents have always made the decision to continue SNAP.  

President Trump has also decided to implement, on the same day, major restrictions to SNAP eligibility under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was passed by Congressional Republicans and signed by President Trump. These changes will result in more than 150,000 Massachusetts residents having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated. 

“Donald Trump is the only President in the history of the United States to cut off SNAP benefits from the American people. He is forcing millions of people – children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities – into hunger, raising costs and hurting local farmers and businesses. He is choosing to do this. President Trump needs to reverse this decision and restore SNAP benefits,” said Governor Healey. “Here in Massachusetts, we are doing everything we can to support our families through this challenging time. We will work with families who rely on SNAP to make sure they know about the changes and help them meet the new requirements. One of the reasons I love this state is that the people of Massachusetts always step up to help neighbors in need. I encourage anyone with the means to do so to support our incredible philanthropic organizations, like United Way, and food banks who are doing heroic work to make sure that no one goes hungry.” 

“It’s appalling that Donald Trump is choosing to take food out of the hands of families across the street, especially as we enter in the winter holiday season.,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “He needs to reopen the government that he controls and restore SNAP benefits.” 

The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is notifying SNAP recipients that unless President Trump changes this decision, they will not receive their benefits next month. Additionally, DTA is notifying recipients of eligibility changes under the OBBBA. These changes impose burdensome requirements on SNAP recipients that are designed to reduce their benefits or remove them from the program altogether. States are forced to implement these changes to avoid significant cost penalties imposed by Congress that could threaten the state’s ability to serve all clients, but DTA is committed to ensuring that everyone who is impacted is aware of the changes and supporting them through meeting the requirements. 

Approximately 150,000 Massachusetts residents will be impacted by these OBBBA changes over the next year. This includes 99,000 Massachusetts residents — including working parents with children aged 14 and older, homeless individuals, veterans, and adults ages 60–65 — who will be subject to more onerous work requirements. If they do not meet President Trump’s requirements, they will lose their SNAP benefits. Additionally, 45,000 people could see their SNAP benefits reduced and utility bills increased because of more paperwork requirements around the standard utility allowance. An additional 9,500 immigrants, including refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking, will be losing their benefit eligibility entirely over the next year. 

DTA is notifying SNAP recipients that President Trump’s OBBBA changes will begin November 1, 2025. The SNAP rules changes will be made when a new client applies, or when existing SNAP clients need to verify their eligibility again, which is called recertification. These changes will be discussed directly with SNAP clients during their recertification process. Any SNAP client who experiences a change will receive a notice explaining why their benefits are changing. More information about these changes is available at mass.gov/SNAPUpdates. Community partners and other government agencies who interact with SNAP clients are being briefed on these changes and will be prepared to help clients navigate them as they go into effect.  

“Shutting down food assistance immediately puts 42 million people at risk, while the cost of their other basic needs is also increasing,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “Depriving families of food not only adds to an evolving economic crisis but creates a long term health crisis too." 

“As the government shutdown continues due to the Republicans’ refusal to back down from their sweeping health care cuts, President Trump now also appears ready to allow SNAP benefits to lapse, cutting off food assistance for tens of millions of vulnerable Americans,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “While the Massachusetts Legislature has provided millions of dollars for food assistance programs, SNAP benefits are entirely funded by the federal government, making it impossible for state government to replace them. The House will continue to monitor President Trump’s actions and do all that it can to offset them here in Massachusetts, but the reality is that only President Trump and Congressional Republicans have the ability to end the pain that they are choosing to inflict by reopening the government.” 

“This is purposeful cruelty. It is pain and hunger deliberately inflicted on more than a million Massachusetts residents by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is cruel to take food away from kids, families, and seniors already struggling to make ends meet. The Senate has made food security a priority in our budget year after year, but it is impossible to fill the gap when the federal government abandons its support. Only Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have the power to change this decision, and I join Governor Healey in calling on them to do just that. For the sake of Massachusetts families, and families across our country — restore SNAP benefits and stop pushing people into hunger.” 

“It is unconscionable that children and families across the country are at risk of going hungry due to the political theater happening in Washington,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD. “I am grateful to live in Massachusetts with strong partners like Project Bread and the United Way keeping families fed and a Governor who has dedicated a taskforce to mitigating the harm the federal government is causing.” 

“As federal changes threaten to disrupt SNAP benefits, our commitment remains the same: to stand with the people we serve, strengthen our communities, and ensure every family has the resources to thrive,” said Department of Transitional Assistance Acting Commissioner Michael Cole. “Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) staff across Massachusetts are working tirelessly to support families through an unprecedented challenge. Every day, we see the strength of our clients, their determination to provide for their families and build stability in uncertain times. Our staff are problem solvers, innovators, and advocates, using technology and human connection to make sure people get the help they need when they need it.” 

“We know that the SNAP program is an incredibly important economic stabilizer – supporting families to buy healthy, culturally appropriate food and investing in our local retailers and farmers,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “The Trump Administration continues to make decision that harm our students and families. It is unfathomable that they would intentionally withhold November SNAP benefits from millions of people, including over 300,000 children in Massachusetts.”   

“SNAP helps ensure that everyone has access to fresh healthy food, and that farmers have access to more markets. Benefits spent on milk, meat, and produce supports the farmers who produce our food,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Tepper. “Donald Trump’s actions will pull money out of rural economies and make it harder for farmers to stay in business. This fund plays a critical role in helping families, supporting local businesses, and keeping farms operational.” 

In response, Governor Healey and the United Way announced a new statewide effort to support Massachusetts residents whose SNAP benefits are being put at significant risk due to choices made by President Donald Trump. The 13 United Ways across Massachusetts, serving all 351 communities, are joining forces to support Governor Healey’s efforts to respond to this crisis. People looking to help can donate to their local United Way or to the United Response Fund, which will rapidly provide resources in communities to mitigate impacts from federal delays in SNAP benefits.  

“Families across Massachusetts are facing unprecedented disruptions to their basic needs,” said Marty Martinez, President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “United Way is proud to partner with the Commonwealth to respond to the direct threats to SNAP benefits and ensure individuals, children and families have access to food assistance and do not go hungry on our watch.  Sadly, this is just one of the many ways that federal policy changes and funding reductions are threatening the safety net and support systems that so many people rely on, and we must stand together to protect our communities.” 

“We stand strongly united with all 13 United Ways in Massachusetts; in solidarity and in effort with the Healey-Driscoll Administration,” said Tim Garvin, President and CEO at the United Way of Central Massachusetts. “We will work to increase our support for food security; we will work to serve the residents of the Commonwealth. We view Food Security as both a necessity for our residents AND as a critical factor in supporting the thriving economy of Massachusetts.” 

“The Trump administration has decided to put the health and well-being of over one million people in Massachusetts—and 40 million people across the country—in jeopardy. These are not faceless numbers. These are our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers. They are facing unimaginable harm,” said Erin McAleer, President & CEO of Project Bread. “Project Bread is hearing from more and more of these families every day. They are calling us because they are consumed with worry about having enough to eat. Choosing not to continue SNAP is an act of cruelty that puts politics above people. It is not negligence, it is deliberate and willful damage to those who are already struggling to make ends meet.” 

Residents facing immediate hunger due to lack of SNAP benefits can call or text Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 to receive information about food resources in their area or talk with a Project Bread counselor. The hotline is available Monday-Friday 8am - 7pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm. Residents can still access WIC and school meals. State funded programs like the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and cash assistance programs TAFDC and EAEDC are not impacted.   

Earlier this year, Governor Healey created an Anti-Hunger Task Force to advise her administration and produce recommendations for how Massachusetts can mitigate against President Trump’s cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs and adopt long-term solutions to hunger. 

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