Michigan Budget Director Tours Kalamazoo Food Bank as Federal Cuts and State Spending Debate Put West Michigan Families at Risk

State Budget Director Visits Loaves & Fishes Amid SNAP Access Challenges

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan's State Budget Director Jen Flood joined state Sen. Sean McCann for a tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes on Wednesday, walking through the warehouse to see firsthand what happens when federal funding changes collide with state budget decisions.

Both officials heard directly from volunteers about the challenges food banks are facing as families struggle to access SNAP benefits under new federal regulations from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"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."

Staff at Loaves & Fishes told Flood and McCann that people they serve are having a harder time accessing SNAP benefits. They pointed to new regulations from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a key factor in the difficulty families are experiencing.

"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 to food," Flood said.

Governor's Budget Proposal Includes SNAP Funding

The governor's proposal totals $88.1 billion. Included is more than $186 million in additional funds to administer SNAP, but also 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.

Flood told the news media that the State Budget Office is taking into account a more than $1 billion decline in revenue this year.

"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."

Federal Changes Impact West Michigan Food Assistance

The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump has created new challenges for SNAP access across West Michigan. Food assistance programs that have long served thousands of families in Kalamazoo and surrounding communities now face regulatory changes that make it harder for eligible people to get the help they need.

State Sen. Sean McCann, a Democrat representing Kalamazoo County, joined Flood on the tour to show how state budget decisions connect to real families struggling with food security.

McCann represents a region where rising costs and changing federal rules have created pressure on already strained assistance programs. His visit with the State Budget Director highlights how Lansing decisions impact Kent County communities.

What Comes Next

Flood indicated the State Budget Office will continue monitoring how federal changes affect state programs. An update is expected in May when new revenue projections become available.

The $88.1 billion governor's budget proposal includes investments in both food assistance and healthcare administration, but officials say Congress last year's actions created significant budget holes that need to be addressed.

Both Flood and McCann emphasized that maintaining access to food and healthcare remains a priority for the state, even as they navigate federal funding changes and revenue challenges.

Sources:

• State budget director tours Kalamazoo food bank, talks SNAP and governor's proposal — WSBT
• State budget director tours Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes — WKZO
• State budget director tours Kalamazoo food bank, talks SNAP and governor's proposal — WWMT