Advocate

When the unexpected happens, our communities look to us - and we are ready.

Feeding South Dakota invests time and thought into preparing for many different scenarios that could impact our service, including the possibility of major disruptions to our food supply. One of those scenarios is unfolding at a time when the number of South Dakotan's seeking food access through our programs and partners is at an all-time high.

Budget adjustments at a federal level have had a real impact to our work, and will be felt by our neighbors - children, seniors, and working families alike. More cuts, already proposed, will deepen hunger in our state and increase demand on the food bank and our community partners, who are already operating at capacity.

We want to do all we can to prevent further reduction in food and ensure that all South Dakotans can thrive.

Food insecurity is a nonpartisan issue that transcends political parties and exists in all congressional districts across the U.S. It will take all of us coming together—people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, communities, partners and donors—to end hunger.

URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED

The Senate just passed a bill that slashes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, taking up to 9 billion meals off the table for neighbors facing hunger annually and ending health care coverage for about 8 million people.

Losing food and health care benefits at the same time would be catastrophic for our neighbors, especially people in rural areas like South Dakota.

Contact to Congressman Johnson right now and tell them: No cuts to SNAP and Medicaid!

Fast Action

Use Feeding America's form to take fast action with a templated email delivered directly to Congressman Johnson.

Email Congressman Johnson

Use Congressman Johnson's online form to submit a direct message, urging him to vote No on the Senate's budget reconciliation bill.

Call Congress

1-800-708-8229

Following a message you will be connected with Congressman Johnson's office. When someone answers tell them your name and town/city you are from.

If no one answers, leave a voicemail.

Current Impact to Feeding South Dakota

March 2025: 200 Monthly Senior Boxes Cancelled
The USDA's reduction of the state's monthly caseload for The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) leaves low-income seniors without consistent access to a box of food - every month - that is selected to meet their nutritional needs.

  • In South Dakota, we provide this important program to seniors in every county of the state.

April 2025: 148,000 Meals Cancelled
The USDA's decision to permanently discontinue Commodity Credit Corporation funded foods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) resulted in an immediate cancellation of 177,000 pounds of food scheduled for delivery to Feeding South Dakota between April and August.

  • These 11 loads were nutritious food items like meat, eggs, produce, and dairy products.
  • This will be an annual impact of 1.5 million pounds of food to Feeding South Dakota - 1,250,000 meals for our neighbors facing hunger.

July 2025: 117,000 Meals Discontinued
Funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program will be discontinued.

  • Equating to 1% of Feeding South Dakota's overall food inventory, this program shortened the food supply chain through purchasing product from South Dakota producers that was distributed through community partners and food bank programs.

What We're Watching

Budget Reconciliation: Deep Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
$3 billion in cuts to SNAP and Medicaid programs will create even greater hardships for our neighbors who face hunger.

  • Eliminating or reducing these essential supports would increase demand on food banks.

Budget Reconciliation: Shift of SNAP Benefit Costs to States
Any form of cost sharing would be detrimental to state budgets, partner food banks and more importantly, neighbors who use SNAP.

  • With an $18 million price tag for a 10% cost share, South Dakota would likely be forced to make decisions that would impact SNAP benefits and eligibility criteria.

FY26 Discretionary Budget Proposal: Ending the CSFP Program
President Trump’s FY26 Request, released May 2, proposes a $425 million cut in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (p. 34), ending the program and replacing it with Make America Healthy Again food boxes filled with commodities sourced from domestic farms, given directly to households.

  • CSFP is a proven program. Eliminating it would disrupt an essential safety net for aging Americans.

Final USDA Program Decisions: More Cuts to TEFAP
Final USDA decisions on program cuts, particularly TEFAP entitlement and bonus loads, would create an even wider gap for us to fill.

  • These USDA foods would reduce our food inventory by an additional 1.5 million pounds annually.

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