Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein issued a sharp rebuke Monday against proposed federal budget cuts that would significantly reduce funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), warning that the measure could force the state into an impossible decision: cut off food access for 1.4 million residents or eliminate essential public services to make up the difference.

“SNAP helps 1.4 million North Carolinians put food on the table,” Stein said in a statement released by his office. “Congress’s proposed cuts are unprecedented and would make North Carolina pay up to $700 million to continue current benefits — all so that the wealthiest Americans can receive even bigger tax cuts.”

Federal Shift Could Create Historic Burden on State Budgets

Currently, the federal government covers 100% of the cost of SNAP food benefits, which are distributed to low-income individuals and families across the U.S. Under the new proposal circulating in Congress, states would be required to assume a portion of those costs for the first time in the program’s history.

For North Carolina, that could mean covering up to $700 million annually to maintain current benefit levels — a burden the state has never had to shoulder. To illustrate the scale of that cost, Governor Stein noted that the same amount could fund approximately 8,900 K-12 public school teacher positions.

“This is not just about food,” Stein added. “This is about how we prioritize our people, our economy, and the future of our children. If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions.”

Vulnerable Households at Risk

The governor’s statement emphasized the human impact of the proposed cuts. In North Carolina, 80% of SNAP households include a child, an elderly adult, or a person with a disability — populations that are among the most food-insecure and least able to absorb financial shocks.

“For these families, SNAP isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity,” Stein said. “Each dollar that SNAP provides for groceries allows families to use their limited income for other essentials — rent, utilities, transportation, child care. Cutting these benefits strips families of stability and dignity.”

Ripple Effects on Local Economies and Food Retailers

The proposed cuts would also reverberate across North Carolina’s economy. SNAP benefits currently contribute nearly $2.8 billion annually to the state’s economy. According to economic research, every $1 in SNAP spending generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity — money that supports grocery stores, small businesses, food producers, and local supply chains.

North Carolina has more than 9,200 SNAP-authorized retailers, ranging from large supermarkets to small-town convenience stores and farmers markets. Many of these businesses rely on SNAP purchases as a stable source of revenue, particularly in rural areas and low-income communities.

“If these cuts go into effect, families will spend less at local stores, which will harm small businesses and weaken rural economies already struggling to recover from the pandemic and natural disasters,” Stein warned.

Disaster Recovery at Stake

Governor Stein also underscored SNAP’s critical role in disaster recovery, citing the ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which struck western North Carolina in late 2024.

The 25 counties most affected by the storm still report higher SNAP enrollment in April 2025 than they did prior to the hurricane in September 2024. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the state received 169,000 SNAP applications — the highest surge in demand since Hurricane Florence in 2018.

“SNAP has been an essential part of helping people get back on their feet after Hurricane Helene,” said Stein. “Cutting benefits now would be devastating, particularly for families in these hard-hit areas who are still rebuilding their lives.”

Call to Action

Governor Stein concluded his statement with a direct appeal to North Carolina’s congressional delegation, urging them to oppose the proposed cuts and protect the state’s most vulnerable residents.

“I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry,” he said. “This is a moral issue, an economic issue, and a public policy issue. We cannot and must not balance the federal budget on the backs of hungry families.”

Last week, Stein sent a formal letter to Congress outlining the wide-ranging implications of the SNAP cuts, urging lawmakers to consider the full scope of harm that could result from shifting costs to the states.

As the debate over the federal budget intensifies in Washington, the fate of millions of low-income North Carolinians — and the communities that support them — now hangs in the balance.