June 23, 2025 – One of the most controversial provisions related to food and agriculture in the Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” is now off the table.
Late Friday, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that plans to shift a significant portion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit costs onto states violated a Congressional rule. MacDonough also axed a provision that would have made certain groups of non-citizens, such as refugees, ineligible for benefits. (Undocumented immigrants are already ineligible.)
Republican lawmakers had hoped federal dollars saved in the SNAP shift would offset some of the billions that would go to tax cuts. Analysts warned, however, that it would also mean millions of Americans would lose access to food aid, and would be a major budgetary challenge for states.
The so-called Byrd Rule determines what lawmakers can and can’t include in the process of budget reconciliation, which they are currently using to move their tax bill without the threat of a Democratic filibuster. The nonpartisan parliamentarian is responsible for evaluating each provision to make sure it complies with the rule.
It is unclear how the Senate Agriculture Committee will proceed, as Republicans across Congress are under immense pressure from President Donald Trump to cut spending in order to pay for the extension of tax cuts for wealthier households and increased spending for military, immigration enforcement, and commodity farms. Congress was aiming to get the bill to the president by the July 4 holiday.
“We are continuing to examine options that comply with Senate rules to achieve savings through budget reconciliation to ensure SNAP serves those who truly need it while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Arkansas) said in a statement.
The committee’s plan to tighten work requirements, which would ultimately push many people out of the program, was not found to violate the rule.
As the process continues, Democrats in Congress will be paying close attention. Since the suite of cuts was first proposed, they have been fighting back on several fronts. They’ve held press conferences, shadow hearings, and roundtables to draw attention to the potential impacts of cuts on American families, farmers, and rural economies.
Last week, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) sent a letter to Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) urging him to change course on the food assistance provisions.
“While Republicans’ proposed cuts to SNAP will still be devastating to families, farmers, and independent grocers across the country, we will keep fighting to protect families in need,” Klobuchar said in a statement following the parliamentarian’s decision. “Instead of a rushed partisan process, Republicans should work with us to lower costs for Americans and pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that works for all farmers and rural America.” (Link to this post.)
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