SUMMARY
More than five million people have lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits since President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year. The bill cut SNAP funding, expanded work requirements and recently pushed more program costs to states. As Stephanie Sy reports, that's meant many more people are turning to food banks for support.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.
News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. See the Google doc above for discussion questions.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- How many people have lost SNAP benefits since the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" was passed?
- What changes did the One Big Beautiful Bill make to nutrition assistance programs like SNAP?
- Who is Dennis Hatchett, and what is his background?
- Why are food banks not a replacement for SNAP, according to Hatchett?
- Where (which states) have seen lower SNAP benefits?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- What do you think local communities and local government's can do to make up some of the need for food assistance left by federal government cuts?
- Do you think the need for increased food assistance impact the coming midterm election? If so, how?
Media literacy: This segment focuses on food bank workers and non-profit leaders. Who else would you want to hear from to understand the impact of
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
While many have seen SNAP benefits reduced or removed, costs for every day items continue to rise. Watch the segment below on the impact of higher diesel prices on inflation, or the increase of the cost of things including food. After watching the segment, discuss —
- How do you think people who rely on SNAP benefits being impacted by inflation?
- How do you think increasing costs will impact federal welfare programs, including SNAP?
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