360,000 Illinois Residents To Lose Food Assistance Due To Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, Pritzker Says

Governor JB Pritzker announced that over 360,000 low-income residents in Illinois will lose food assistance due to recent changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under President Trump's legislation. The law not only shifts financial burdens to the states but also imposes work requirements on recipients under 64 years old, impacting vulnerable groups like unhoused individuals, veterans, and youth aging out of foster care. Pritzker criticized the legislation, stating that it prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy over the well-being of children and families facing food insecurity. Local advocates are concerned that the changes will increase hunger and stress food assistance programs, which have already seen rising demand due to the pandemic. The new work requirements take effect immediately, while cuts to Medicaid and SNAP funding will be implemented after the 2026 midterm elections, leaving Illinois with a $705 million annual obligation.

This funding shift comes at a time when state lawmakers are grappling with a $770 million fiscal cliff affecting the Chicago region’s transit systems. The potential fallout includes job losses in sectors supported by SNAP, as well as increased administrative costs for the state to enforce new requirements. Overall, these changes threaten to weaken the safety net for those reliant on food assistance.