Trump Budget Undermines Rural America – Slashing SNAP Benefits and Working Lands Conservation Programs

Lyons, Neb. Center for Rural Affairs policy associate Anna Johnson said America stands to suffer as a result of President Trump’s 2019 budget, released this on February12, by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) and the office of Management and Budget (OMB).

“The President has proposed again to eliminate or shrink many programs that serve rural America, including those supporting rural businesses, cooperatives, and housing,” said Johnson. “The President is also calling for an investment of $50 billion in rural infrastructure, but this could put the onus on states already struggling with the economic fallout of depressed commodity prices.”

In addition, Trump’s budget slashes working lands conservation programs by proposing the elimination of the Conservation Stewardship Program. Johnson said it would be a grave error to remove this vital support to farmers and ranchers. The Conservation Stewardship Program gives farmers and ranchers an important opportunity to plant cover crops, practice soil conservation tillage, and improve pastureland. Eliminating it would do serious damage to our farmers’ and ranchers’ abilities to preserve water quality and build soil health while also maintaining productive operations.

Another program threatened by the President’s budget is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The President’s budget strips away nearly $214 billion in funding for SNAP over the next decade.”

Beyond the revocation of funding, the budget outlines a plan to reduce direct SNAP assistance, and instead, distribute quantities of ‘American grown,’ shelf-stable items like milk, peanut butter, cereals, and canned meats. This action would not only destabilize attempts to bring more healthy, fresh foods into the homes of America’s food insecure, but would keep dollars out of local grocery stores and farmers markets, which are critical assets to all communities.

Johnson said President Trump’s budget proposal would drain support for rural America.

“We fear these actions represent a lack of understanding of rural America’s struggles,” she said. “We urge President Trump, U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Perdue, and their teams to cease these actions that undercut rural Americans and rural communities.”