On the Ground Report: Federal Impacts in North Dakota

By: Prairie Action North Dakota Institute

October 11, 2025

SNAP Cuts Are on Their Way to North Dakota Families

Federal budget changes slash food assistance, leaving thousands at risk.

What Happened

Congress passed a budget law that makes deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Instead of protecting families, the law strips away a vital lifeline that helps people put food on the table.

Who’s Affected

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that millions of people will lose SNAP benefits because of new restrictions in the budget law.

That loss won’t just show up in the numbers, it will show up in North Dakota families’ kitchens with:

• Children

• Older adults

• Veterans

• People with disabilities

• Working families

who will be facing greater risk of hunger and hardship.

New Barriers

The law adds punitive rules that:

• Expand time limits and work requirements that research shows do not increase employment, only hunger

• Create red tape that makes it harder for people to qualify

• Risk pushing 2.4 million people off SNAP entirely

Specific Impacts on North Dakota

Refugees, asylees, and Special Immigrant Visa Holders (Our Afghan Allies) in North Dakota will lose eligibility on November 1, 2025

These are our neighbors and coworkers. Losing SNAP doesn’t just hurt them, it makes our whole state weaker.

And continued SNAP cuts will ripple through local grocers, farmers, and rural towns, shrinking dollars flowing into our economy

Impact on North Dakota Kids and Schools

Cuts don’t stop at SNAP.

• Nearly 100,000 children nationwide will lose school meal subsidies

• Programs like the National School Lunch Program will shrink by an estimated $170 million

• Cutting back on kids’ nutrition doesn’t save money, it costs us in health, learning, and basic humanity.

Why it Matters

SNAP and school meals are among the most effective tools to:

• Reduce hunger

• Support education

• Lower long-term health costs

Weakening them will only deepen hardship for North Dakota families and communities.

Take Action

📢 Restore SNAP now!

Every meal matters. Every voice does too.

📩 Tell Congress:

Protect North Dakota families. Restore SNAP now. bit.ly/restoresnapnd