Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were under fire in Kansas and other states last October during the longest government shutdown in the United States’ history. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its suspension of SNAP benefits in October. 

Kelly paid SNAP benefits to eligible recipients despite President Donald Trump’s threats against states that did so. While no legal backlash has yet fallen on Kansas, recent changes to SNAP, documented in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), may hurt many Kansans who rely on SNAP benefits.

Current Changes To SNAP

Signed by President Trump in July 2025, so far, the OBBB has made an extensive change to eligibility requirements for certain exceptions to SNAP benefits. These include extending the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are eligible for time-limited work requirements (80 hours a week). Previously, once an ABAWD reached age 55, they were exempt from time-limited work requirements, but this age range has been extended from 18-54 to 18-64. 

The bill removed work requirement exemptions for veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness and adults under 24 who aged out of foster care. 

Notably, it also changed the caregiver exemption, which allows certain adults to be exempt from work requirements if they are caring for a child under 18 or an incapacitated household member, from those caring for children under 18 to those caring for children under 14. Because most high schoolers are above the age of 14, this could directly impact LHS students and families.

In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingram, President Trump claimed that the cost of SNAP in California increased. 

“SNAP has gone from $7 billion to many times $7 billion,” Trump said. “SNAP is supposed to be if you’re down and out.” 

Ingram asked Trump whether SNAP could be reformed. The president said it was possible. 

“People that need it have to get it. I’m all for it,” Trump said. “But people that are able-bodied can do a job. They leave their job because they figure they can pick this up. It’s easier. That’s not the purpose of it.”

Future Changes To SNAP

Historically, the federal government has funded SNAP in full. 2028 marks the first year that states will be required to contribute to the cost of SNAP. The OBBB stated that in the 2027 fiscal year (FY27) states must fund a portion of the cost based on their payment error rate. States with an error rate above 6% will be required to contribute. A state’s error rate is a measure of its accuracy at determining eligibility and benefit amounts for SNAP, including overpayments and underpayments. 

Error rates in FY25 and FY26 determine how much states will have to contribute to SNAP in 2027. From then on, the cost will be determined by the prior three fiscal years.

The cost share is determined as follows:

• PER is less than 6%: no cost share; federal government pays 100% of benefit. 
• PER is 6-8%: 5% cost share. 
• PER is 8-10%: 10% cost share. 
• PER is greater than 10%: 15% cost share.

While FY25 data isn’t yet released to the public, in FY24, Kansas had a payment error rate of 9.98. If this amount remained consistent for FY25, Kansas would be required to cover 10% of SNAP benefits. That price could lead many states, including Kansas, to drop SNAP benefits altogether. 

In December, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it would withhold funding for SNAP from Democratic-led states, such as Kansas, that refuse to share immigration data. In an interview with KSNT, Governor Laura Kelly shared her stance on the USDA’s actions. 

“I have absolutely no interest in people going hungry,” Kelly said. “I also have no interest, though, in being bullied into releasing information that is personal and private. I’m in a tough situation here. I’ve got to protect people’s privacy, and I’ve also got to protect their dining room table.”

School and Community Resources

Staff and administrators at Lawrence High know that some students may be struggling with food insecurity, especially after changes to SNAP. 

Matthew Klein is a work experience specialist at LHS.

“I think anytime you’re limiting who has access to stuff that they need, that’s a problem,” Klein said. “I think it’s a horrible idea to make qualifiers for people who need food or need things.”

Klein helps manage Lawrence High’s food bank–something he says is much more than a pantry.

“We have snacks, we have clothing, we’ve got menstrual products, we’ve got diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant,” Klein said. “It’s basically just a little one-stop shop for anyone in the building who needs stuff. You come, and you get it, there’s no questions asked.” 

To access the pantry, located at the South end of the building by the science classrooms, Klein recommends speaking with a teacher, counselor or social worker to schedule a visit. 

“You don’t have to ‘qualify’ for it,” Klein said. “If you know someone, if your family needs some stuff, feel free to come to the pantry to ‘shop’”. 

During your visit, Klein asks that you write your initials on a provided piece of paper and how many items you took, so Harvesters and Just Food, the nonprofits that help keep the pantry stocked, can track how many items are being taken on average. 

Klein said that the pantry is a valuable resource to students.

“We had a drive the past couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, and we raised over 1,100 pounds of donations. We went in, and we restocked our pantry, and then we’re going to donate stuff back to Just Food,” Klein said.  “For me, the biggest [thing] is I just like it when things get taken out.”

If students want to donate items, they can donate directly to the school or the district’s clothing closet. 

“Just having something local that people can access without having to fill out any paperwork or qualify for the services…It’s a huge, huge benefit to our school,” Klein said.