Tucked inside the Republican megabill is a provision that would crack down on hundreds of thousands of people who receive more generous food assistance because they also get federal help with their energy bills.
Republicans and their conservative allies have for years complained about the program, which they say “artificially” boosts SNAP payments. Democrats counter that the proposed rollback contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would heap even more misery on the poor.
“This is a lifeline for families to be able to afford groceries and still pay their utility bills,” Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) said at a House Agriculture Committee markup of the reconciliation package in May.
Republicans and President Donald Trump have targeted low income energy aid. In April, the administration purged the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program but later rehired one employee temporarily to distribute $400 million to states.
