By Wyatt Lehr OMAHA, Neb.- Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are scheduled to take effect in 2026. Here in Omaha, this is raising concerns as levels of food insecurity are already at historic highs.
President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed on July 4, 2025, will reduce SNAP funding by $186 billion through 2034, the largest cut in the program’s history. The law will also shift most administrative costs from the federal government to the states beginning in October 2026.
Local leaders and food banks warn that the timing couldn’t be worse. One in eight families and one in five children in Omaha are food insecure, rates higher than those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you remove SNAP benefits, not only does it make it harder for people to access healthy food, but it puts more pressure on an already overburdened pantry system,” said Stephanie Sullivan, assistant director of marketing and communication for Food Bank for the Heartland.
Volunteer Caden Peppmuller said individual donations have become increasingly important. “Recently, with the federal funding cuts, the importance we’ve had on individual donations has been huge,” Peppmuller said.
Omaha City Council member for District One Pete Festersen spearheaded a vote to direct $150,000 in Keno funds to four local food banks, including Food Bank for the Heartland. “I would prefer the federal government renew its support,” he said. “But here in Omaha, we’re going to do what we can to help these families.”
A new Food Bank for the Heartland facility is scheduled to open in early 2026 on the intersection of 84th and L Street. The building will be 40 percent larger than the current site, providing the organization with more space to meet its growing demand.
Leave feedback about this