STAFF REPORTS – Staten Island, N.Y. — Proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have severe implications for the 75,000 residents of Staten Island who depend on the program for food assistance, according to city officials on Wednesday.
The legislation, known informally as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” was recently passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and is now heading to the Senate for potential revisions.
While some officials argue that the bill could lead to a $300 billion reduction in federal spending, critics assert that the cutbacks would disproportionately impact the most vulnerable community members.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, representing Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn, celebrated the bill’s passage, framing it as a triumph for tax relief, which she claims could benefit families across the nation.
“Today marks a historic victory for Staten Islanders, Brooklynites, and families across the nation who have been calling for tax relief,” Malliotakis stated.
She emphasized that the legislation makes President Trump’s tax cuts permanent and includes additional relief measures for senior citizens, as well as increasing the Standard Deduction and the Child Tax Credit.
Despite these claims, Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park highlighted significant concerns regarding the proposed changes to SNAP.
Park pointed out that modifications to the work requirements for able-bodied adults, as well as the new definition of dependents, could severely restrict eligibility for the program.
She voiced apprehension that the proposed changes appear more aimed at reducing the number of people on SNAP than genuinely assisting them in finding employment.
“This is masked as connecting people to employment, but really, I think it is about getting to that $300 billion cut number, so that there is support for tax breaks for the wealthiest,” Park remarked.
According to a fact sheet released by the House Committee on Agriculture, the proposed bill would raise the age threshold for SNAP work requirements from 54 to 64 for those without disabilities.
In addition, the legislation would redefine dependent children for SNAP beneficiaries, changing the age limit from 18 to 7.
As a result, single parents with children as young as eight years old would face stringent work requirements to maintain their benefits, causing potential hardships for families in the community.
“The person who really suffers in that situation is that eight-year-old,” Park lamented.
Moreover, the proposed legislation would increase the cost-sharing burden on state governments for SNAP payments, which, according to Park, New York may struggle to manage effectively.
However, Malliotakis argued that this cost-sharing reform was a necessary response to payment errors within the state.
“New York has a payment error rate that surpasses the national average and has doubled in the last few years,” Malliotakis stated regarding the state’s inefficiencies.
She maintained that the state has a two-year timeline to rectify wrongful payments or it will face increased financial responsibilities for the SNAP program.
Malliotakis did not address an inquiry about her stance on how the proposed cuts would affect her constituents reliant on SNAP benefits.
According to data from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, there are 121,536 individuals receiving SNAP benefits in Malliotakis’s district, with 31% being children and 29% classified as elderly.
As the Senate considers revisions to the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” community leaders and advocates continue to express deep concern over the potential negative impacts on food security for thousands of Staten Islanders.
Advocates are calling for a close examination of the proposed changes to ensure that those in need of assistance do not suffer as policymakers work to implement their fiscal strategies.
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