Key House Republicans are growing increasingly worried that planned cuts to a popular food aid program under the GOP’s reconciliation package could sink hopes for a new farm bill at a time when the party is in a strong position to shape the legislation.
The budget plan advanced by House GOP leadership calls for substantial reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of $230 billion in agriculture spending cuts. It’s rankling both swing-district lawmakers with constituents who rely on the aid and those representing farm-heavy districts where President Donald Trump’s policies are threatening to worsen economic headwinds.
“It’s always been a careful balance” between finding spending trims for reconciliation and the farm bill, said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “Various of us have discussed with each other how we can’t give everything in the first call. You’ve got to have some resources to work with [for the farm bill].”
The tensions around the reconciliation cuts are complicating matters for Republicans who were hoping that GOP control of Congress and the White House would make it easier to get a farm bill done after years of bipartisan conflict. Many agriculture policies haven’t been updated since 2018. Lawmakers have a narrow window to pass new legislation this year before the midterm elections complicate negotiations.
