Farm Bill: SNAP Funding Stalls Senate Vote
Midterm elections and disputes over food assistance costs have delayed the renewal of critical agricultural programs.
By Bianca Herrera ·
The 2023 Farm Bill expired on Oct. 1, 2026, leaving a gap in federal support for agriculture and food programs. A new version has cleared the House, but it remains stuck in the Senate. The delay creates uncertainty for farmers and states that rely on these annual legislative updates.
The core of the disagreement involves the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. This program accounts for roughly three quarters of the bill's projected costs. In the 2018 Farm Bill, SNAP represented about three quarters of the $428 billion in planned expenditures. Republican lawmakers have sought to reduce this figure, while Democrats push for protections that reverse cuts made in previous reconciliation bills.
Senate Agriculture Committee members reached a partial compromise in August. They agreed to delay benefit cost-sharing for states if their SNAP error rates remained too high. Despite this, Democratic senators continued to seek broader reversals of the changes enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The committee eventually passed a version on party lines in September, with Republicans holding the majority.
Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for the National Farmers Union, noted that farm bills have traditionally relied on regional and crop-based coalitions rather than strict party lines. He explained that bringing together stakeholders from forestry, conservation, and nutrition helped build broad support. However, he observed that recent cycles have focused more on subtracting funds than adding new programs.
Jonathan Coppess, an agriculture law expert at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, traced the shift toward partisan conflict to 2013. That year, a farm bill failed on the House floor for the first time since 1962. Coppess served as counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2011 to 2013 and advised former Sen. Ben Nelson. He argued that using reconciliation procedures to cut SNAP and boost farm payments has made the legislation more difficult to pass.
Jordan Dux, a policy analyst for the Nebraska Farm Bureau, countered that the coalition is not completely fractured. He pointed to a unanimous vote on an amendment package in the Senate committee as evidence of continuing cooperation. Lawmakers have also worked together on expanding ethanol use and reviewing animal welfare standards. Dux stated that while large bills always face challenges, there remains a degree of bipartisanship.
The Senate requires 60 votes to pass its version of the bill. Midterm elections are approaching, and the outcome will influence how Republicans proceed in the final weeks of the current Congress. If Democrats gain control, Republicans may be more willing to compromise. Conversely, either party could choose to delay the final vote until a new session begins.
