¶ Overview
- Harding said Congress’s job was to “protect those programs” when asked about SNAP, but celebrated Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that cut food assistance for millions of Americans. Nearly 23,000 households in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district relied on SNAP and Nebraska had already seen a 10% decrease in SNAP participation since the bill was enacted.
¶ Harding Supported The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Which Made Significant Cuts To Food Assistance, Despite Saying It Was Congress’s Job To Protect The Program
¶ Harding Claimed Congress’s Job Was To Protect Federal Nutrition Programs Like SNAP
Harding On SNAP: “Congress’s Job Is To Protect Those Programs And Make Sure They Work As Intended.” According to a candidate questionnaire by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Omaha, “JCRC: What is your perspective on federal nutrition programs, such as SNAP and school meal programs? BRINKER HARDING: I support nutrition programs that serve the people who truly need them — children, seniors, veterans, the disabled and working families. Congress's job is to protect those programs and make sure they work as intended.” [Jewish Community Relations Council, 4/26]
¶ Harding Supported the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
¶ Harding Supported “One Big Beautiful Bill”
Harding Supported The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” According to Brinker Harding’s Instagram, “Two of my campaign pillars are Grow America and Secure America. The One Big Beautiful Bill does just that—cutting taxes for working families and making our border & homeland more secure. Happy Independence Day, America! 🇺🇸”
[Instagram, @brinkerharding, 7/4/25]
Harding Defended The “One Big Beautiful Bill” As A Historic Economic Policy And Said He Would Fight For Similar Policies. According to a Brinker Harding opinion in Omaha World-Herald, “In Congress, I'll fight against big government socialism that threatens our freedoms and prosperity. And I'll fight for an economy that empowers workers, families, and small businesses. That starts with the first expense Americans pay right out of their paychecks: taxes. With the Working Families Tax Cut, President Trump and Republicans stopped the largest tax increase in history, saving the average Nebraska household $2,400. Republicans passed historic tax cuts on tips, overtime and Social Security. And millions of Americans will receive the largest tax refunds of their lifetimes this spring.” [Brinker Harding Op-Ed – Omaha World-Herald, 1/23/26]
¶ The “Big Beautiful Bill” MADE MAJOR CUTS TO Food Assistance, IMPACTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
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]
¶ May 2025: The House Republican Budget Bill Included A $300 Billion Cut To SNAP
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]
¶ February 2025: The Blueprint For The “Big Beautiful Bill” Set Up Future Cuts To SNAP
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]
¶ Thousands Of Nebraska Households Faced Cuts To Food Assistance As a Result Of The “One Big Beautiful Bill”
¶ Nearly 23,000 Households In NE-02 Relied On SNAP
2024: Nearly 23,000 Households In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Relied On SNAP. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture,
[U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP Community Characteristics, Viewed 4/29/26]
¶ As Of February 2026, Nebraska Had Already Seen A 10% Reduction In SNAP Participation Since “Big Beautiful Bill” Was Enacted
As Of February 2026, Nebraska Had Already Seen A 10% Reduction In SNAP Participation Since The “Big Beautiful Bill” Was Enacted.
[Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, State SNAP Participation and Unemployment Trends, 5/11/26]
¶ Experts And Community Organizations Predicted Significant Negative Impacts Across Nebraska From Cuts To Food Assistance
Public Health Expert Said The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Cut $322 Million From Food Assistance, Which Would Cause More Than 70% Of Counties In Nebraska To Struggle With Food Access. According to an opinion in the Nebraska Examiner, “In addition, the bill cuts $322 million from food assistance (SNAP), putting 155,000 Nebraskans — including 64,000 kids — at greater risk of hunger. More than 70 percent of counties in Nebraska will struggle with food access. The hardest hit will be our rural communities.” [Opinion - Nebraska Examiner, 8/15/25]
Food Bank Of Lincoln And Food Bank For The Heartland Said The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Would Have A “Profound Impact On Nebraskans Facing Hunger For Years To Come.” According to a Press Release from the Food Bank of Lincoln and Food Bank for the Heartland, "We are deeply disappointed by the recent passage of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ This legislation will have a profound impact on Nebraskans facing hunger for years to come by threatening access to food and healthcare, especially in our rural communities. Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid come at a time when food insecurity in Nebraska is already at historic levels." [Press Release - Food Bank of Lincoln and Food Bank for the Heartland, 7/11/25]
National Farmers Union Said “Big Beautiful Bill” SNAP Cuts “Undermine The Foundation Of The Farm Bill” And Would Have “Harmful Effects On Millions Of Americans.” According to Nebraska Public Media, "National Farmers Union president Rob Larew stated the gains for agriculture ‘are paired with harmful tradeoffs.’ Particularly, the bill slashes spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. ‘Cuts to SNAP divide the farm bill coalition and reductions in Medicaid will have harmful effects on millions of Americans,’ Larew said ‘Farm policy should unite us. This approach undermines the foundation of the farm bill and puts its future at risk.’" [Nebraska Public Media, 7/31/25]
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Said SNAP Cuts In The “Big Beautiful Bill” Did Not Benefit “The Majority Of Folks In The Food And Farm System.” According to Nebraska Public Media, "Mike Lavender, policy director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, described the law as ‘cannabilizing’ the American food and farm system. The legislation carves out nearly $186 billion from SNAP while subsidizing the largest, wealthiest farmers, he said. ‘There's a subset of folks who benefit from this bill,’ Lavender said. ‘It is not the majority of folks in the food and farm system.’" [Nebraska Public Media, 7/31/25]