Brief
Sen. Elizabeth Warren warns of food‑insecurity crisis from SNAP cuts and price hikes
Warren's Oct. 21 letter to the USDA says higher grocery costs and reduced SNAP benefits are driving a sharp rise in food insecurity.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Senator Elizabeth Warren told CBS News on Oct. 22 that Americans are confronting a "food insecurity crisis" after an extra $22 billion in food costs from inflation and SNAP cuts, according to a letter she sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Oct. 21.
What happened
Warren’s letter says the combination of rising grocery prices – more than $17.2 billion in inflation‑adjusted consumer spending – and a loss of $5.1 billion in SNAP benefits since July 2025 has hit millions of households. She notes that 5.2 million people have lost SNAP benefits in that period and that enrollment is now at its lowest level since 2019.
What the reports add
The CBS report cites a May analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that found 10 % of U.S. families reported insufficient food, up from 4 % in 2020, and that nearly 20 % of families earning under $50,000 a year said they lacked enough food, up from about 7 % six years earlier. It also references the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a 2025 law signed by President Trump that expanded SNAP work requirements and shifted more costs to states, creating new enrollment hurdles.
What was said
"My office developed a 'food misery index' to measure how much the combination of rising food prices and declining SNAP participation is costing American households," Warren wrote, according to CBS. She also blamed President Trump’s tariffs for higher food prices. The USDA and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
How it came about
Warren’s concerns follow a series of recent reports on rising food costs, including Felo News’ coverage of global food‑price spikes in September 2026 and projected CPI increases for September that highlighted higher food prices ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Key facts
- Warren says an extra $22 billion in food costs stems from inflation and SNAP cuts. (cbsnews.com)
- 5.2 million people have lost SNAP benefits since July 2025. (cbsnews.com)
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis found 10 % of families lack enough food, up from 4 % in 2020. (cbsnews.com)
Sources
- [1] cbsnews.com — originally reported as “Elizabeth Warren warns of "food insecurity crisis" from SNAP cuts and higher prices”
