Urgent Action Needed as Trump Shifts SNAP Costs to North Carolina Counties

I urge you to take immediate action to address the devastating impacts of federal SNAP changes on North Carolina counties, particularly my county. Despite the state budget now being signed, critical gaps remain unfilled. as SNAP benefits in North Carolina are administered at the county level. Beginning this October, the federal government will slash its contribution to SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 25%, forcing counties to absorb $52 million in new expenses over nine months alone. Then in fall 2027, North Carolina faces potentially $300-$400 million in costs for SNAP benefits based on payment error rates—costs that counties fear will be pushed onto their already-strained budgets. To date, as far as I can tell, North Carolina has taken no proactive steps to fund these administrative cost shifts, ask Congress to reverse them, or prepare for benefit payment penalties. Individual counties like Bladen have written lawmakers requesting state coverage, and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has warned that without state funding, North Carolina may have to stop offering the SNAP program altogether. This is an existential threat to food assistance across our state. As your constituent, I ask you to: First, allocate state funding to cover county administrative costs immediately. Counties cannot absorb millions in new expenses without cutting public safety, infrastructure, and other critical services. Second, pledge state resources to cover the benefit cost-sharing penalties beginning in fall 2027, rather than forcing counties to choose between food assistance and other essential services. Third, invest in staffing, technology, and automation improvements that reduce payment errors before fall 2027—without forcing counties to cut other programs to pay for it. Fourth, work with Congress to delay or reverse these penalties while states improve their error rates. Finally, advocate for federal policy changes to the error rate calculation, which currently creates a perverse incentive to deny eligible people benefits. The people of my county and across North Carolina deserve a state government that protects its most vulnerable residents. These are not just budget line items—they represent families who depend on food assistance to feed their children. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively to prevent this crisis.