SNAP is one of the most important programs for U.S. citizens, you surely have heard of food stamps, as they help millions and millions of families (specifically 40 million people) gain access to basic foods for a healthy and balanced diet. But it not only helps families to eat, it also helps small businesses and neighborhood stores that are part of this program and that also end up benefiting from it.
But with the arrival of Mr. Trump and the declared war on the entire public system, the SNAP program does not stop suffering cuts in its funds… and now there are fewer customers, fewer stores, more closures and entire communities losing the closest access they had to fresh and healthy food.
SNAP: much more than “food coupons”
SNAP is the program that allows millions of low-income families to maintain a diet based on basic, fresh and healthy products, from bread and milk to fruits or vegetables. Although it is federally funded, its effects are felt in every corner: supermarkets, local markets and, above all, in convenience stores that are the only resource for millions of people.
SNAP is a critical program to pull individuals and families out of crisis and give them an opportunity to find employment while worrying less about food for their families. Learn more: https://t.co/5FgZsIT4Jr #MoreThanAJob pic.twitter.com/wrWg8V2twx
— USDA Food and Nutrition Service (@USDA_FNS) August 25, 2025
How does it work?
Beneficiaries receive a debit card type EBT on which they receive monthly the money that corresponds to them depending on their situation. These cards allow them to make the purchase they want (within limits, of course, you are not going to buy alcohol with a federal aid) within the stores included in the program, usually large surfaces and neighborhood stores and small businesses.
Neighborhood stores… on the edge
Of course, with the arrival of the cuts, those who have noticed it the most are the small businesses. In many cases, when a customer pays with SNAP they are not just buying food, they are sustaining the entire neighborhood economy. And in the so-called “food deserts” (neighborhoods where there are no large supermarkets) those stores are literally the only way to access fresh food.
With fewer funds, the flow of customers will plummet. And for businesses that already operate with minimal margins, losing that income can be the difference between staying open or closing down.
A domino effect
The crisis affects us all equally, when local stores close, families have less access to basic products. That means more risk of malnutrition and public health problems. Large chains can withstand the blow because they have much greater financial backing, but family businesses cannot. Their disappearance leaves very difficult gaps to fill, not only in terms of food, but also in the community fabric of those neighborhoods.
What options are left?
Some shopkeepers have begun to organize and pressure legislators to look for solutions to offset the cuts. Others try to reinvent themselves, expanding their offer with local products or applying discounts to keep their customers. But the reality is that if austerity policies continue, thousands of small businesses could disappear in the coming years.
The cuts to SNAP are not just a budget adjustment, they are a direct blow to the most vulnerable families and to the businesses that keep neighborhood life alive in our country! The immediate consequence will be more food inequality and the loss of community spaces that were already at risk.
The future will depend on political decisions and on the ability of small businesses to adapt to this new landscape… When a program like SNAP is touched, it is not only money that is cut, it is access to food and stability in thousands of communities…