Proposed Cuts Put SNAP-Ed On the Line in Maine & Beyond

What’s at Stake for Nutrition Education

In a move alarming health and community leaders, Congress is considering a proposal to eliminate all federal funding for the SNAP-Ed program (1). Unveiled on May 13, 2025 by the House Committee on Agriculture, this budget plan would completely defund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) – the nation’s nutrition education program for low-income families. Such a drastic cut would dismantle an initiative that public health experts call a “vital resource” for healthy communities, with a “devastating and disproportionate impact” on millions of Americans (1). If enacted, the loss would be felt in thousands of communities across all 50 states – including right here in Maine.

SNAP-Ed: What It Is and Why It Matters.

SNAP-Ed is the educational arm of SNAP (the food assistance program), offering free nutrition classes, cooking workshops, school programs, and community initiatives to help people shop for, cook, and eat healthy food on a limited budget. It’s a community-driven, evidence-based program implemented through local partners, like us. In each state, SNAP-Ed nutrition educators work on the ground in the community – teaching in schools, child care centers, food pantries, farmers’ markets, senior centers, and more. Participants learn practical skills like how to prepare balanced meals, read nutrition labels, stretch grocery dollars, and stay active. These efforts have proven benefits: studies show that SNAP-Ed helps improve diet quality and even boosts food security for low-income households (5). In short, SNAP-Ed equips communities with the knowledge and tools to make nourishing choices—every day, in real-life settings. Eliminating this program would undo 30 years of progress in fighting nutrition-related health disparities and leave a void in nutrition education for our most vulnerable neighbors.

SNAP-Ed’s Impact in Maine

Maine’s SNAP-Ed program is a clear example of how much is at stake. Our state currently receives about $4.9 million in SNAP-Ed funds each year (4), supporting nutrition education initiatives in all 16 counties. Through a contract with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and local partners, about 40 trained SNAP-Ed educators deliver programming statewide. In recent years, educators have taught thousands of classes, reaching tens of thousands of Maine children and adults annually (2). They meet people where they are – in classrooms, in grocery stores, at community centers – to make nourishing choices easier and more accessible. In fact, Maine SNAP-Ed operates in an array of community settings (including over 170 schools and youth programs across the state) to ensure that kids and families receive consistent nutrition education support. Direct nutrition education not only improves individuals’ food skills but also strengthens community ties – parents, children, and seniors come together around healthy food and learn from each other. It’s a grassroots approach that builds healthier habits from the ground up.

A young girl proudly showcases fresh vegetables in her Maine SNAP-Ed backpack at a Rockland farmers’ market event. Programs like the “Kids Tent” in Knox County engage children with fun, hands-on nutrition activities and encourage them to try fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Rockland Farmer's Market Kids' Club (now the Kids' Tent) is just one example of many ongoing policy, systems, and environmental change initiatives implemented by Knox County SNAP-Ed to uniquely support the well-being of our coastal communities. This kind of positive, early exposure to nutrition is exactly what SNAP-Ed makes possible – and it happens through partnerships with community venues like farmers’ markets, libraries, and schools. Without SNAP-Ed funding, innovative community programs like this would be in jeopardy. The loss would be felt by the families who attend these programs, the schools that welcome nutrition educators into their classrooms, and even by local farmers and food pantries that partner with SNAP-Ed to help connect people with healthy food.

A Nationwide Ripple Effect

Eliminating SNAP-Ed wouldn’t just hurt Maine. Every state in the country stands to lose – together, that’s about $536 million per year currently invested in nutrition education nationwide (4). If this cut goes through, similar programs from coast to coast would vanish overnight. Think about what that means: millions of low-income Americans would suddenly lose access to trusted resources that help them eat well, feel better, and stay healthy. The ripple effects would be felt broadly. For example, food banks and farmers’ markets often rely on SNAP-Ed educators to teach clients how to use fresh produce or prepare healthy meals on a budget (1). Schools would lose partners that reinforce healthy habits through curricula and tasting activities. Community health coalitions would lose a key evidence-based program that complements their efforts to combat health disparities and chronic disease. In short, cutting SNAP-Ed would set back public health efforts nationwide, especially in rural and low-income areas where resources are already limited.

It’s no surprise that nutrition and public health advocates across the U.S. are raising the alarm. The Public Health Institute and others have strongly condemned the proposal to defund SNAP-Ed, urging Congress to recognize the program’s value and the harm that elimination would cause. They emphasize that SNAP-Ed is not a “nice-to-have” extra – it is a core support for millions of Americans striving to eat well and stay healthy. Terminating SNAP-Ed funding now, after decades of success, would be an enormous step backward for community health and food security.

Understanding What’s at Stake for Nutrition Education

The proposal to eliminate SNAP-Ed is a moment of real concern for anyone who values nutrition, education, and equitable access to health resources. If you’ve participated in a SNAP-Ed class or seen the impact of nutrition education in your community, you know how much these programs offer — and how deeply they’re rooted in real, daily life.

If you’d like to learn more about how nutrition programs like SNAP-Ed are shaped by federal policy, or explore updates on current legislation, you can visit the U.S. House of Representatives website to find your elected officials and view their public communications.

Advocacy and public health organizations — including Full Plates Full Potential, the Public Health Institute, and others — are sharing resources, data, and stories that may help clarify the broader context. Staying informed and engaged in a way that feels meaningful to you is one way to support continued access to tools and programs that build healthy communities.

Thank you for being part of a community that values health, access, and dignity for all. Together, we can continue centering the needs of families and individuals — and help keep Maine the way life should be.

This message is intended to raise awareness about recent developments that may affect SNAP-Ed programs nationwide. As a federally funded program, we do not engage in lobbying activities.

Sources:

1. Public Health Institute – Statement on Proposed Elimination of SNAP-Ed (May 14, 2025)

2. Maine SNAP-Ed – Annual Reports and Program Data

3. USDA SNAP-Ed Connection – Success Story: Rockland Farmers’ Market Kids Club

4. USDA FNS – SNAP-Ed FY2025 Allocation Memo

5. Journal of Nutrition – SNAP-Ed Participation and Food Security Study