FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX News) \u2014 Governor Andy Beshear says 24,655 children and 6,572 seniors in Kentucky are among thousands facing hunger after changes to federal food assistance programs.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, Beshear sent letters to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Kentucky’s congressional delegation about concerns he has following the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He says the changes resulted in more than 80,000 Kentuckians losing access to benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should be fighting hunger, not causing it; yet the President\u2019s cruel and unnecessary changes to SNAP are causing more than 80,000 Kentuckians \u2013 and millions of Americans across our country \u2013 to face hunger,\u201d said Gov. Beshear. \u201cI am calling on both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and members of Kentucky\u2019s congressional delegation to take action to ensure our most vulnerable citizens, including children and seniors, do not go hungry for reasons beyond their control.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor says the changes made were part of the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year, which significantly reduced benefits, expanded work requirements, and shifted costs to states. Beshear says an estimated 5 million Americans, including more than 1 million children, lost access to SNAP benefits since July 2025.<\/p>\n
Kentucky’s governor says SNAP eligibility is tied to other meal programs, including free and reduced lunches and summer electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT).<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool meals and summer programs are what so many children depend on for food,\u201d said Gov. Beshear. \u201cBecause of the President\u2019s actions, now even those dependable sources of food will be taken from our most vulnerable kids. It\u2019s wrong, and action needs to be taken.\u201d<\/p>\n
One in five people in Kentucky face food insecurity, according to the latest numbers from Feeding America. The organization reports 40.6% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children.<\/p>\n
Monday, Gov. Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear helped unload thousands of pounds of food at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Frankfort. The nearly 40,000-pound donation included shelf-stable foods like canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, flour, pancake mix, and dried milk. A network of food pantries will help distribute the supplies to Kentuckians in need in all 120 counties.<\/p>\n
Email the LEX18 Newsroom if you have info, photos or videos to share.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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