US states ask Congress to delay SNAP cost provisions

State and local governments asked Congress to delay cost-sharing provisions that would shift some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expenses to states, saying operational strains during the 2025 federal shutdown and other implementation challenges left programs exposed; the groups proposed pushing the start of the cost-share until 2030.

State and local governments sent a joint letter to Congress asking for a delay to parts of the federal law that shift costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to states. The law, signed last July as part of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, would require states to begin paying a portion of benefit costs and a larger share of program administration in coming fiscal years. Officials said the 43-day federal shutdown in 2025 and the rapid rollout of other changes left states scrambling and exposed them to unintended fiscal risks. The letter asks Congress to postpone the cost-share provisions until 2030 to allow states time to lower payment error rates and stabilize programs. Key points: - A coalition including the National Governors Association, the National Association of Counties and the National Conference of State Legislatures sent the letter requesting a delay. - Under the law, states could be required to pay as much as 15% of SNAP benefit costs beginning in fiscal year 2028, with the exact share tied to state error rates in fiscal year 2025 or 2026. - The share of administrative costs that states must cover would rise to as much as 75% starting in fiscal year 2027, up from the previous 50-50 split with the federal government. - The letter said that on average states will face about $218 million in new SNAP spending under the law, with larger sums cited for Florida and California. Summary: The letter says the combination of the 2025 government shutdown and other implementation demands created operational and fiscal strain for states and counties. The groups asked Congress to delay the cost-share provisions until 2030 so states have time to shore up program integrity. Undetermined at this time.