Updated

As millions of children lose SNAP food assistance benefits, experts warn that free school breakfast and lunch programs are also at risk because eligibility for those meals is often directly tied to SNAP enrollment. The connection between the two programs means that families losing food stamp benefits could simultaneously lose access to meals their children receive at school. Advocates say this compounding effect could deepen food insecurity among low-income children nationwide, as the safety net programs designed to work together begin to unravel. The development adds to growing concerns about the broader impact of benefit cuts on vulnerable families.