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Overview
Food insecurity remains a challenge in New York. From 2022–2024, 14% of households experienced food insecurity, up from 10.8% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1][2][3] To reduce food insecurity, federal nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), help New Yorkers access nutritious food. New York State supplements these federal programs through additional investments in administration, outreach, and State-operated nutrition initiatives. As Table 1 demonstrates, New York mounted a strong response to reduce rising food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
This fiscal year, federal policy changes will strain New York’s food safety net again. The 2025 federal budget reconciliation bill shifted $1.2 billion in annual SNAP benefits and $200 million in administrative costs to New York State.[5] It expanded SNAP work reporting requirements and restricted eligibility for many immigrants, putting an estimated 400,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing benefits. These cost shifts are compounded by the elimination of $30 million per year in federal SNAP-Ed funding, the primary nutrition education program in New York.[6] These federal cuts will further destabilize an already undermined safety net: the 2025 federal shutdown threatened to cut $650 million in monthly benefits to roughly 3 million New Yorkers.[7] As federal policies continue to shift, tracking State food security investments will help to ensure resources effectively safeguard nutrition and health.
[1] Rabbitt, M.P., Reed-Jones, M., Hales, L.J., Suttles, S., & Burke, M.P. Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 (Report No. ERR-358). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. December 2025. https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/113623/ERR-358.pdf?v=38847. Accessed January 2026.
[2] The United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service calculates the prevalence of food insecure households as a 2-year rolling average.
[3] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Food Security in the United States: How Do States Compare? 2025. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/interactive-charts-and-highlights#States. Accessed January 2026.
[4] Okonkwo, C. McCarthy, J. Barrett, A. Budget Tracker: New York State’s Investments in Food Security Programs. New York Health Foundation. February 24, 2025. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/budget-tracker-new-york-states-investments-in-food-security-programs/. Accessed December 2025.
[5] Hunger Solutions New York. SNAP Changes Under the Federal Budget Reconciliation Law. https://hungersolutionsny.org/resources-action/policy-and-advocacy/snap-changes-hr1/. Accessed November 2025.
[6] Melanson, B. SNAP-Ed Benefits to Lose Federal Funding. WBNG. September 19, 2025. https://www.wbng.com/2025/09/19/snap-ed-benefits-lose-federal-funding/. Accessed December 2025.
[7] New York State. Executive Order 54: Declaring a Statewide Disaster Emergency Due to Federal Actions Related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. October 30, 2025. https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-54-declaring-statewide-disaster-emergency-due-federal-actions-related#:~:text=WHEREAS%2C%20the%20interruption%20of%20SNAP,to%20respond%20to%20this%20crisis. Accessed December 2025.
Budget Tracker: State Investments by Year
Table 1 summarizes New York’s investments in food security programs over four periods: 1) FY 2019 (April 1, 2018–March 31, 2019), 2) FY 2020 (April 1, 2019–March 31, 2020), 3) FY 2025 (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025), and 4) FY 2026 (April 1, 2025– March 31, 2026). State budget allocations were sourced from the Aid to Localities (FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2025, FY 2026) and Capital Projects (FY 2019) Appropriations bills. Reference numbers for specific program allocations are included to support ongoing tracking.
Key Highlights
- Through the regular budget process, New York more than quadrupled investments in food security programs between FY 2019 and FY 2026.
- Child Nutrition: The State increased its investment in multiple child nutrition programs by approximately 800% between FY 2019 and FY 2026. With the adoption of Universal School Meals, the State nearly doubled its investment in the School Lunch and Breakfast Program in FY 2026, allocating an additional $160 million.
- NOURISH New York: The State invested an additional $750,000 in FY 2026 to address food insecurity while creating economic opportunities for farmers.
- Wellness in Nutrition (WIN): The State increased investment in home-delivered meals and nutrition services for older adults by $2.3 million in FY 2026.
- Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP): The State pledged an additional $92,000 in FY 2026 to strengthen enrollment in federal benefit programs.
Table 1 provides an overview of New York’s funding for food security programs over three time periods: 1) FY 2019 (April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019), 2) FY 2020 (April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020), and 3) FY 2025 (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025). State budget allocations were sourced from the Aid to Localities (FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2025) and Capital Projects (FY 2019) Appropriations bills. Reference numbers for specific program allocations are included to support ongoing tracking.
Download a PDF and the quick-reference table