Federal SNAP Cuts and Rising Costs Put West Michigan Families at Risk as State Budget Director Tours Kalamazoo Food Bank

State Budget Director Visits Loaves & Fishes Amid Concerns Over Federal Policy Changes

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan's State Budget Director Jen Flood joined state Sen. Sean McCann for a tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes on Wednesday to see firsthand how food banks are dealing with the impact of federal policy changes and rising costs on families in West Michigan.

Both officials walked through the food bank's warehouse, listening to staff describe the challenges volunteers face daily. Workers told Flood and McCann that families they serve are struggling to access SNAP benefits due to new federal regulations from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump.

"We are seeing the federal government pass the tab to states on some really important programs like SNAP and Medicaid," Flood said. "We wanted to come here to see sort of the work on the front."

Federal Cuts Create Budget Hole

The staff at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes explained to the state officials that people they serve are having a harder time accessing SNAP benefits. They pointed to new federal regulations as a key factor in the difficulty families face in obtaining food assistance.

"We know that families are facing rising costs, and so in the Governor's final budget, we have investments to help make sure that people maintain access to healthcare, maintain access food," Flood said.

The governor's budget proposal totals $88.1 billion and includes more than $186 million in additional funds to administer SNAP, along with upwards of $780 million in Medicare funding.

"The action that Congress took last year blew an enormous hole in our budget and it also puts access to food and health care at risk for millions of Michiganders," Flood said.

State Revenue Decline Adds Pressure

On top of addressing federal pressures, the state faces a more than $1 billion decline in revenue this year. Flood explained that the State Budget Office is already accounting for those projections.

"We built our budget based on those projections," Flood said. "We'll get an update in May, but the Governor's committed to leaving our state's finances in better shape than she inherited them, so we will watch closely what happens and make sure that our spending leaves us in a good place."

State Budget Process Continues

Flood and McCann emphasized that the governor's proposal is just one piece of the process. Both chambers of the legislature will each put forth their own vision for the coming year.

The Republicans, who control the state House, have already expressed concern about new taxes sought by the Democratic-controlled Senate. This political tension adds another layer of complexity to the budget negotiations that will determine how much funding West Michigan communities receive for essential services.

McCann represents Kalamazoo County in the Michigan Senate and has been a vocal advocate for food assistance programs in the region. His partnership with Flood on this visit highlights the growing concern about how federal policy changes are affecting local food security.

What This Means for Families

The visit comes at a time when many West Michigan families are feeling the strain of both federal policy changes and rising living costs. Food banks across the region have reported increased demand for assistance as SNAP benefits become harder to access.

The state budget director's tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes signals that officials are aware of these challenges and are trying to understand the full impact on local communities. However, the final budget that emerges from the legislative process will determine whether families across West Michigan can maintain access to the food and health care assistance they need.

Sources:

• https://wsbt.com/news/regional/state-budget-director-jen-flood-kalamazoo-food-bank-snap-governor-budget-funding-loaves-fishes-politics-government-michigan
• https://wwmt.com/news/local/state-budget-director-jen-flood-kalamazoo-food-bank-snap-governor-budget-funding-loaves-fishes-politics-government-michigan
• https://wkzo.com/2026/04/09/913108/