Half of Texas Latinos who had food stamp benefits half lost them since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law last year, new estimates from progressive advocacy group Unrig Our Economy shows.
Since the act’s passage, an estimated 1.5 million Latinos nationwide have lost access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), otherwise known as food stamps, according to the nonprofit’s report. Of that total, nearly 400,000 are Texas residents.
The data arrives as Republicans become increasingly concerned about how Latinos, a bloc that helped Trump win a second term, will vote in the midterms. Party officials are especially concerned about South Texas, which has yielded unexpectedly tight congressional races — even in districts Texas lawmakers redrew to favor the GOP.
“The Republican Tax Law took food assistance away from more than 1.5 million Latinos to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations,” Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal said in a statement. “Families are already struggling with the high cost of groceries and gas thanks to the war in Iran and tariffs. SNAP cuts make it even harder for Latino families — who are disprportionately impacted — to put food on the table.”
The Republican-backed H.R. 1 — otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill — cut back on SNAP eligibility to slash federal spending. Changes to the program include stricter work-participation requirements, the elimination of eligibility for certain noncitizens and the transfer of more administrative duties to states.
As of Oct. 1, states are responsible for an extra 25% of administrative SNAP costs, according to ABC News.
Beyond the drastic SNAP adjustments, Trump’s bill has drawn criticism for creating tax loopholes for some of the nation’s wealthiest people, the Associated Press reports.
“The results are in: Trump and his GOP allies in Congress cut critical nutrition assistance that helps millions of Latinos and working people across the country meet their basic needs — all to deliver historic tax giveaways to billionaires and business elites,” Jodie Rubenstein, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness, said in a statement.
Concerns over the economy and the cost of living are top priorities for Hispanic voters, according to a survey conducted by the Cook Political Report and TelevisaUnivision. Additionally, economic disillusionment has eroded Hispanic approval of the Trump administration, the survey shows.
Early voting continues through Oct. 30. Polls will reopen on Election Day, Nov. 3.
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