Local food bank says Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ will increase demand for assistance

EAST POINT, Ga. - Some local non-profits are very concerned about the effect the ‘big, beautiful bill’ will have on helping families in need.

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts plan has passed both chambers of Congress and is now headed to the president’s desk.

“There’s no doubt that this bill is going to increase demand for food assistance across our community,” said Kyle Waide, the CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Waide said the number of families who rely on the food bank has gone up by 60% over the last three years due to inflation.

“We’re already at max capacity for the amount of food we distribute,” he said.

The bill includes major cuts to Medicaid and food stamps -- also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries called the bill a “GOP tax scam that guts Medicaid, rips food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks.”

Waide said they’re expecting that between $500 million and $800 million worth of food assistance will no longer be available to families across Georgia.

The bill also lists new work requirements for the SNAP program, which may make it harder for people to qualify.

“So many of the people that we’re serving now don’t qualify for SNAP. SNAP was taking care of these other families who now are going to need support,” Waide said.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration said only 28% of people who are on snap and not disabled work.

The White House says it’s strengthening the program for those who truly need it.

“There could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago when Congress passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill to make America great again,” Trump said.

Still Waide said they’re going to feel the brunt of the impact and are going to need more support from the community to help meet the demand.

“We’re going to need more financial support. We’re going to need more volunteers,” Waide said.