Food Bank volunteers distribute food to clients.
San Antonio Food Bank volunteers distribute food to clients. Credit: Instagram / safoodbank

Around 2,500 low-income Texans could die from worsening health conditions due to Republican cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a new report from the Center for American Progress.

Last summer, Republicans passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which slashed SNAP — otherwise known as food stamps — by $187 billion and caused enrollment in the program to drop by 2.6 million people, the progressive Washington, D.C.-based think tank found in its analysis.

Using data and estimates from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, CAP estimates that the cuts, along with new work requirements to qualify, could translate to nearly 70,000 avoidable deaths nationally by 2040.

“Research has consistently shown that access to SNAP is linked with many positive health outcomes,” CAP said in a statement. “Most importantly, research has shown reduced rates of mortality among SNAP participants. As more families have their food assistance cut or eliminated, they are likely to experience worsening health outcomes and are more at risk.”

Although Texas and other states recently introduced new SNAP restrictions banning the use of food stamps for sugary drinks and candy, the congressionally imposed cuts include more controversial measures such as requiring able-bodied adults to work 80-hours a month to qualify.

CAP and other critics of the cuts argue the expanded work requirement is difficult to meet for single moms and also may be difficult to prove for people who are day laborers or involved in other trades that are paid under the table.

However, some of the projected deaths could be prevented if Congress votes to delay the administrative and benefit cost shift, CAP wrote in its report.

“The largest cuts to SNAP in history will likely lead to worse health outcomes for low-income families and preventable deaths across the country; the law’s rush implementation time will only exacerbate these effects,” the report said.

The CAP study estimates some 55,000 Texans would die if SNAP was abolished all together, behind California at 87,300. Florida came in at No. 3, with a projected 47,900 SNAP-related deaths by 2040.

Around 300,000 Bexar County residents rely on SNAP benefits.

Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

​

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...