State data reveals impact of federal SNAP cuts in Montgomery County
Thousands of Maryland residents are coping with a sharp reduction in safety-net support following sweeping federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to Gov. Wes Moore’s office.
Among the hardest hit are lawful immigrant families across Montgomery County, where local food pantries and community hubs are bracing for a surge in demand.
State data confirms that 4,566 lawful immigrants across Maryland, including refugees and asylees, have lost their food assistance due to new federal guidelines.
Under the revised federal rules under House Resolution 1, refugees and asylees who previously qualified for immediate or streamlined benefits must now possess a Green Card, official Lawful Permanent Resident status, before receiving assistance.
For Montgomery County, home to Maryland’s largest foreign-born population, the policy shift poses an immediate challenge to local food security initiatives.
In response to the federal cuts, Moore and state human services officials outlined strategies aimed at mitigating the fallout.
The state Department of Human Services has launched targeted outreach, including text-messaging re-enrollment campaigns, expanded SNAP Employment & Training partnerships, and specialized navigation for affected households.
At the local level, Montgomery County continues to execute its Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger, which highlights that food insecurity among Hispanic, Latino and Black children in the county is significantly higher, exceeding 14%, compared to white children (4.5%).
Nearly 36,000 Marylanders lost their food benefits following federal legislation passed last year that overhauled eligibility rules and expanded work requirements.
County officials urge local residents to access resources through the Montgomery County Food Council and the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center.
