OLYMPIA—With the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” today in Congress, Governor Bob Ferguson is advising that the approximately one million Washingtonians who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a reduction in benefits. In addition, the state will now be on the hook for an additional $87.8 million in administrative costs associated with the SNAP and, at a minimum, an additional $100 million in increase cost share to the state.
“This bill takes food from our most vulnerable Washingtonians to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy,” Gov. Ferguson said. “This bill is only beautiful to billionaires.”
The One Big Beautiful Bill, he announced will reduce SNAP benefits to the average household under the Thrifty Food Plan by about $56 per month and decrease the maximum allotment per household. Now, the maximum allotment for a family of four would drop from $975 to $848.
The bill also means that more than 130,000 Washingtonians will now need to meet new work requirements to keep their SNAP benefits.
Dan Jackson, Deputy Communications Director for the Governor’s Office, shared with the Lynnwood Times that starting in October, all Washington SNAP recipients will face reduced benefits, alongside a significant increase in the state’s administrative costs.
“The reduction in benefits to all Washington SNAP recipients and the sharp increase in the state’s administrative costs go into effect in October of this year,” Jackson told the Lynnwood Times. “Other provisions either become effective as soon as agencies can implement them, or in subsequent years.”
Author: Mario Lotmore
