¶ Overview
- Hurd claimed he would protect SNAP benefits during the Republican budget process and then voted for a bill that made the largest SNAP cut in history. His vote threatened food assistance for more than 43,000 Colorado households in the 3rd congressional district, which had already experienced a 5% decrease in SNAP participation from bill passage to April 2026. Hurd also told constituents in a town hall that reporting saying the “One Big Beautiful Bill” caused SNAP cuts was “misreporting and completely factually inaccurate.”
¶ Hurd Voted To Take Food Assistance From Coloradans Who Relied On It To Afford Groceries After Promising To Protect It
¶ Hurd Said He Would Protect Food Assistance Like SNAP After Voting For The Republican Budget Framework That Set Up Cuts
¶ February 2025: Hurd Voted For House Republicans’ Budget Framework, Which Set Up Future Cuts To SNAP
2/25/25: Hurd Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Framework That Included $2 Trillion In Cuts, Raised The Statutory Debt Limit By $4 Trillion, And Required House Committees To Recommend Legislation That Would Implement Trump’s Agenda. In February 2025, Hurd voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would recommend a budget for fiscal 2025 and budget levels through fiscal 2034. The resolution would assume minimum savings of $1.5 trillion over 10 years and 2.6 percent economic growth over the same period. It also would require the statutory debt limit to be raised by $4 trillion. It also would authorize the House Ways and Means Committee to increase deficits by $4.5 trillion over 10 years to extend the 2017 tax cuts and implement new tax cuts proposed by the White House. It also would provide instructions for the budget reconciliation process through which separate legislation could be considered and passed in the Senate via a simple majority vote. The measure would deliver instructions to 11 House committees to report legislation that would implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, such as expanding tax cuts and bolstering border security and immigration enforcement. The committees would be required to report their legislative recommendations to the House Budget Committee by March 27, 2025. It also would set a $2 trillion target for the spending cuts to be submitted to the House Budget Committee. The resolution also would stipulate that if the committees don't reach that target, the Ways and Means’ reconciliation instructions to increase the deficit by a maximum of $4.5 trillion would be decreased by the amount the other committees come in below the target. Similarly, it would stipulate that Ways and Means could increase the deficit above the $4.5 trillion level by the amount of savings the committees achieve above the $2 trillion target.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 217 to 215. [House Vote 50, 2/25/25; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/25; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 14]
- HEADLINE: "House Republican Budget Takes Away Health Care, Food Aid To Pay For Expanded Tax Cuts For Wealthy" [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/21/25]
- CBPP Said The Republican Budget Resolution Outlined $230 Billion In Cuts, Primarily From SNAP Benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The House Republicans’ budget plan would give major tax cuts to high-income, wealthy households. Extending the expiring individual income and estate tax provisions for households with incomes in the top 5 percent of the income distribution (households with incomes over $321,000) costs around $1.8 trillion through 2034, accounting for 49 percent of the total $3.6 trillion cost of extension through 2034. That $1.8 trillion for wealthy and high-income households is close to the amount of the spending cuts House Republicans have outlined — including at least $880 billion primarily from Medicaid, $230 billion primarily from SNAP benefits, and $330 billion primarily from making student loans more expensive. Of the tax cuts for wealthy households, nearly $200 billion is for an estate tax giveaway that showers some $6 million per estate on the 1 in 1,000 wealthiest estates. In contrast, the average SNAP benefit is $6.20 per person per day, which helps struggling families put food on the table." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/21/25]
¶ After Hurd’s Vote For The Republican Budget Framework That Paved The Way For SNAP Cuts, Hurd Said He Would Protect Services Like SNAP
February 2025: Hurd Said He Would Be Looking To “Protect The Services And Benefits That So Many Families In My District Rely On, Things Like Medicaid And SNAP” After The Republican Budget Resolution Vote. According to Durango Herald, "‘There is zero policy changes in this resolution, but it does set the stage for us to begin those policy changes and to deliver on the things that we campaigned on, securing the border, growing our energy economy, and protecting Colorado families,’ he said. ‘As Congress moves forward, I'm gonna be looking to protect the services and benefits that so many families in my district rely on, things like Medicaid and SNAP.’ A spokesperson for Hurd's office said with a two-seat majority, every Republican had the opportunity to provide input on the resolution, including Hurd." [Durango Herald, 2/27/25]
February 2025: Hurd Said Budget Changes Needed To Be Made “In A Way That Does Not Hurt Those That Genuinely Need To Use Those Benefits” And “That Includes SNAP” After The Republican Budget Resolution Passed. According to Montrose Daily Press, "On Tuesday night, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget resolution bill aimed at cutting $2 trillion in federal costs over the next 10 years and extending President Donald Trump's tax cuts from 2017 for $4.5 trillion. […] Hurd was also asked about how budgetary cuts could impact The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). ‘Let's see what the Agriculture Committee comes up with when it comes to SNAP benefits. This is one of those area where I think there are some savings that could be gained in a way to better utilize some of those dollars, but we need to make sure those changes are done in a way that does not hurt those who genuinely need to use those benefits’ Hurd said. ‘That includes SNAP and making sure that families experiencing severe economic difficulty are able to put food on the table. I look forward to seeing the specifics of the proposals and evaluating it based on what those committees come up with.’" [Montrose Daily Press, 2/28/25]
¶ Hurd Voted For The House Republican And Final Reconciliation Bills That Cut Snap Benefits For Millions, while downplaying Cuts as “misreporting”
¶ May 2025: Hurd Voted For The House Version Of The Republican Reconciliation Bill, Which Included A $300 Billion Cut To SNAP
5/22/25: Hurd Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Bresnahan voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution. It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- The House Republican Reconciliation Bill Included Nearly $300 Billion In Cuts To The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The House-passed Republican reconciliation plan would cut nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through 2034, based on Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates — by far the largest cut to SNAP in history.[1] As a result of these cuts and other policies in the legislation — which are being used to pay partly for trillions in tax cuts skewed to the wealthy — millions of people would lose some or all of the food assistance they need to afford groceries, when many low-income households are struggling to afford the high cost of food and other basic needs." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/28/25]
¶ July 2025: Hurd Voted For The Final GOP Reconciliation Bill, Which Contained The Largest SNAP Cut In History
7/3/25: Hurd Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Million In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, Increased The SALT Deduction To $40,000, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Bresnahan voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- HEADLINE: "Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Cuts Food Stamps For Millions — The Average Family May Lose $146 Per Month, Report Finds" [CNBC, 7/10/25]
- The GOP Reconciliation Bill Would Cut SNAP Funding By $186 Billion, Which CBPP Said Constituted The “Largest Cut To SNAP In History.” According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The Senate Republican leadership’s reconciliation bill would dramatically raise costs and reduce food assistance for millions of people by cutting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), about 20 percent — the largest cut to SNAP in history. These cuts would increase poverty, food insecurity, and hunger, including among children. The so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is anything but beautiful; it would cause widespread harm by making massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which would raise costs on families and make it much harder for them to afford the high cost of health care and groceries." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/30/25]
¶ Hurd Called Reporting That “One Big Beautiful Bill” Cut SNAP “Misreporting And Completely Factually Inaccurate”
Hurd Said That Accusations That The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Cut SNAP Were “Misreporting And Completely Factually Inaccurate.” According to Rep. Jeff Hurd during a telephone town hall, "HURD: There's been a huge missed misconception and misreporting when we talk about fair and objective media when it comes to “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” I sure wish that they would fairly and objectively report it, because here's the facts. […] You mentioned SNAP benefits, I think you described as taking food away from children. That is also misreporting and completely factually inaccurate. Here's the facts. When it comes to SNAP spending, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is what food stamps are now called, all we did in Congress was we said: You will continue, state of Colorado, you will continue to get 100% of your benefits – the federal government will continue to pay 100% of food benefits for, you know, needy families, for poor people – as long as Colorado keeps its erroneous overpayment rate less than 6%. So basically, if Colorado – listen, if you can administer these dollars in a way that's not wasteful, more than 6%, you keep 100% of your food stamp benefits. I think this is good public policy." [Congressman Jeff Hurd Telephone Town Hall, 9/17/25] (audio)
¶ More than 43,000 households in colorado’s 3rd congressional district relied on snap to afford groceries
2024: 43,401 Households In CO-03 Relied On SNAP.
[U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP Community Characteristics, viewed 5/26/26]
As Of April 2026, Colorado Had Already Seen A 5% Decrease In SNAP Participation Since The Enactment Of The “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
[Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, State SNAP Participation and Unemployment Trends, 5/18/26]
¶ Experts Estimated SNAP Cuts In The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Would Be Devastating To Food Security Across Colorado
The Government Relations Manager at Feeding Colorado Expressed The “Big Beautiful Bill” Would Significantly Strain Colorado’s Anti-Hunger Network By Creating Large Gaps Between The Number Of Meals Provided And Needed As Well As Straining Colorado’s Budget And Economy. According to a blog post by Ron Meehan, Government Relations Manager at Feeding Colorado, on the Food Bank of The Rockies Blog, "Quick Bites H.R. 1 (‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’) significantly increases pressure on Colorado’s anti-hunger network, which was already struggling to meet rising demand before the law took effect on July 4, 2025. Cuts and structural changes to SNAP and Medicaid could remove billions of meals nationwide and create a 120% gap in Colorado, affecting nearly 615,000 SNAP participants and putting hundreds of thousands of households at risk of losing benefits. Shifting SNAP costs to states threatens Colorado’s economy and food system, potentially costing the state up to $245 million annually, reducing economic activity supported by SNAP, and increasing reliance on food banks that cannot meet the projected need alone." [Ron Meehan Guest Post – Food Bank of the Rockies Blog, 12/18/25]
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Changed Funding And Requirements For SNAP That Experts Estimated Would Have An Impact On Families’ Ability To Feed Their Children. According to Colorado Children’s Campaign, "The One Big Beautiful Bill includes wide-ranging changes to federal programs and services – including those that allow families to meet their children’s basic needs. […] New work requirements, changes to the state’s funding responsibility, and changes to eligibility will likely lead to reduced SNAP benefits or coverage for kids. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps families with low incomes afford food. This bill shifts additional funding responsibility and some administrative costs for this program to states – which Colorado will likely struggle to provide, given recent budget challenges the state has faced. The bill also freezes the amount of SNAP benefits based on the cost of food. It expands work requirements to include families with children over the age of 14." [Colorado Children’s Campaign, 7/9/25]
The Executive Director of the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, when asked if food pantries could fill in the gap the government is leaving: “I don’t know. I really don’t know.” According to NBC9News, "At the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, Executive Director Christina Stimson said her organization is already anticipating a dramatic spike in need the moment benefits disappear. ‘We are absolutely predicting an immediate influx on the first day of May, when there's no coverage,’ Stimson said. […] She also said the pantry's mission is clear, even when the path forward is not. ‘We pick up where the government leaves behind,’ she said. But the scale of the coming need raises hard questions. When asked directly whether food pantries could realistically replace what the government is cutting, Stimson did not offer reassurance. ‘I don't know. I really don't know,’ she said." [NBC9News, 4/9/26]
Opinion – SNAP Cuts In The “Big Beautiful Bill” Hurt Vulnerable Families And Ripple Through The Food System, Hurting Grocery Stores, Ranches & Farms, And Truckers. According to an associate professor at the University of Denver’s School of Social Work Jennifer C. Greenfield opinion in Denver Post, "But the cuts in the reckless budget bill working its way through Congress would slash these critical programs — hurting our most vulnerable while straining state budgets to the breaking point. Here in Colorado, it is estimated that the state will lose as much as $259 million in federal funding for SNAP if the bill becomes law. Cutting SNAP will mean more children go hungry. It also sucks millions of dollars away from grocery stores, with ripple effects that will impact Colorado ranches and farms, the trucking industry, and our entire food supply chain. As a result, people will lose their jobs. […] Even one of these changes would be devastating to Colorado’s most vulnerable families and the state economy. By putting them all together in one big bill, Congress seems intent on destroying safety net programs, food supply chains, health care systems, and state and local budgets." [Jennifer C. Greenfield Op-Ed – Denver Post, 6/18/25]
Healthier Colorado: “[One Big Beautiful Bill Act] OBBBA Also Slashes Food Assistance For The Most Vulnerable Coloradans.” According to a press release from the CEO of Healthier Colorado Jake Williams, "OBBBA also slashes food assistance for the most vulnerable Coloradans, decreasing their access to food and harming their economic security: 298,000 Coloradans will lose all or some of their SNAP benefits as a result of the law, according to the Urban Institute. Without this critical food assistance, children and families will go hungry and face an increased risk of adverse health outcomes due to inadequate nutrition." [Press Release – CEO of Healthier Colorado Jake Williams, 7/9/25]
Food Banks Estimated They Would Have Longer Lines And Less Food To Distribute As A Result Of SNAP Cuts From The “One Big Beautiful Bill.” According to Denver7, “While Democrats assert that President Donald Trump's newly signed "big, beautiful bill" will cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Republicans say the legislation will actually address high payment error rates in states, including Colorado. Denver7 reached out to the Colorado Department of Human Services, which distributes SNAP, and the independent Colorado Fiscal Institute. Both confirmed Colorado's 2024 SNAP payment error rate was 9.97%, certainly above that 6% threshold. […] Therefore, starting October 1, 2027, Colorado will be responsible for paying 10% of the state's SNAP benefits, which is estimated to cost between $120 million and $140 million per year. The national payment error rate for fiscal year (FY) 2024 was 10.93%, according to CDHS. CDHS said it is currently evaluating the impacts of this new federal spending bill on the 617,000 Coloradans who receive monthly benefits. Area food banks, including Weld Food Bank, have told Denver7 that the spending bill will result in longer lines and less food that can be divvied among those seeking food assistance.” [Denver7, 7/9/25]