FAQ: Defunding of Maryland's SNAP-Ed Program and Its Impact

What is SNAP-Ed and what did it provide?

SNAP-Ed was Maryland’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education that provided nutrition education classes to SNAP participants and low-income families, while partnering with food pantries, farmers’ markets, and community programs to improve food access and healthy eating knowledge.

When was SNAP-Ed defunded and why?

SNAP-Ed was defunded as of October 1 following President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which eliminated funding for this statewide nutrition education program.

How many people are affected by this defunding?

The defunding affects 70 SNAP-Ed employees who will lose their jobs, 700 community partners including Judy Centers and Head Start Centers, and over 640,000 Maryland residents who were reached by the program in its final year.

What specific services and programs are being lost?

Lost services include nutrition education classes, weekly fresh food deliveries to Judy Centers, cooking demonstrations, nutrition lessons, small appliance distributions like Crock-Pots, monthly fruit and vegetable deliveries to pre-kindergarten classrooms, and partnerships with 541 youth education sites and 133 farmers and food pantries.

How is Frederick County specifically impacted?

In Frederick County, six Judy Centers, six community schools, and 90 pre-kindergarten classrooms lost access to weekly fresh food deliveries, nutrition education, and programs that served over 1,500 three and four year olds with monthly fruit and vegetable deliveries.

Who are ALICE families and how are they affected?

ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed) are households earning above the federal poverty line but unable to afford basic necessities, and they lose crucial food access and nutrition education support that helped bridge the gap between income and food security.

What was the program’s reach and participation before defunding?

In fiscal year 2025, Maryland SNAP-Ed reached over 640,000 residents with over 55,000 individuals participating in education programs, numbers that had been increasing since the program began according to University of Maryland Extension impact reports.

Why was SNAP-Ed considered important for food education?

SNAP-Ed filled crucial gaps in food access and education, particularly in areas where people couldn’t get healthy food, making nutrition discussions digestible for young people and helping them understand how healthy eating improves quality of life.

What other programs are affected by this defunding?

Programs like Blessings in a Backpack, which provides food for families every Friday, will also feel the effects of the cut, along with all 700 community partners including Judy Centers, Head Start Centers, and various youth education sites.