As President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" heads towards becoming law, local food banks in Massachusetts brace for the consequences. Catherine D’Amato, head of the Greater Boston Food Bank, expressed serious concerns about the bill's impact. “We are anticipating that anyone who loses their SNAP benefit or their Medicaid health and food benefits will rely on the private pantry system," D'Amato told Boston 25 News. The food bank serves 600,000 people a month, and with anticipated cuts, demand could surge by 70%.
Some of the bill's features include a continuation of tax breaks enacted in 2017, such as allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and introducing a $6,000 deduction for most older adults below a certain income threshold. However, these are offset by $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps due to new work requirements, which may affect a wide segment of the population, including some parents and older people. According to Boston 25 News, critics argue these cutbacks could strip millions of their Medicaid health care and food benefits, increasing dependence on charity-based organizations like food banks.
In a separate statement, Sandra Montesino of Daniel's Table in Framingham — an organization that has been aiding the food insecure for nearly a decade — noted a drop in donations coupled with rising food costs. "It's way down. Donations have been really down. These cuts are going to have a significant impact on Daniel's Table," Montesino said in an interview with CBS News Boston. Erin McAleer, CEO of Project Bread, also highlighted the persistent high levels of food insecurity since the pandemic and the additional strain the bill will cause.
While the Massachusetts GOP has praised the bill for funding border security and providing tax cuts for middle-class families, concerns have been raised by advocates addressing food insecurity. Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley criticized the bill on social media, stating, “Republicans have passed a bill that will be a death sentence—denying millions medical care, denying children food, & violently deporting immigrant families to destabilized countries,” according to Boston 25 News. These differing viewpoints highlight the ongoing debate over the bill’s potential effects on various communities and social support systems.
