With approval of GOP megabill, Washington state braces for food stamp cuts

Washington state could see about 170,000 residents lose food stamp benefits due to a Republican megabill passed by Congress. The new work requirements would impact 137,000 individuals, while 33,000 refugees and asylees would be ineligible for SNAP. The state may face an additional $88 million in administrative costs annually, with potential penalties exceeding $100 million if its payment error rate remains high. Critics, including Governor Bob Ferguson, argue that the legislation undermines the social safety net and disproportionately benefits wealthy Americans. The bill proposes the largest cuts to food stamps since the program's inception, aiming to reduce federal spending on nutrition programs nationwide by an estimated $186 billion over the next decade.

Currently, SNAP supports over 908,000 Washingtonians, amounting to more than 10% of the state's population. Many current beneficiaries could see their monthly allowances reduced by an average of $56. The legislation's impacts may push some states to reconsider their participation in the SNAP program altogether.