Michael Whatley on Food Assistance: The SNAP Cuts and the New Costs for North Carolina Counties
Michael Whatley, the Republican Senate nominee in North Carolina, backed a law that shifts up to $420 million a year in SNAP benefit costs onto North Carolina, by the state's own estimate. As Republican National Committee chair, Whatley called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act a "huge win for all Americans!" on July 3, 2025, and on July 8, 2025 he said the law would strengthen SNAP by "taking people who should not be on the programs off the programs," The National News Desk reported.
WRAL has described Whatley as "a staunch supporter" of the plan, which used cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs to help pay for income tax cuts.
In North Carolina, 1,415,600 people, 1 in 8 residents, received SNAP in fiscal 2024. Counties lose about $69 million in federal administrative funding starting October 2026, and rural counties such as Bladen say they cannot staff the extra work, WFAE reported.
Michael Whatley's Statements on the SNAP Cuts
- Whatley Called the Law That Cut SNAP a Huge Win in July 2025. On July 3, 2025, Michael Whatley posted that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was a "huge win for all Americans!" (North Carolina Independent). That endorsement covers the law's SNAP provisions, which shift administrative costs to North Carolina counties from October 2026 and part of benefit costs to the state from October 2027, according to the state project portal.
- Whatley Said Taking People Off SNAP Would Strengthen It. On July 8, 2025, Whatley said the bill will strengthen Medicaid and SNAP by "taking people who should not be on the programs off the programs," adding, "We do not need waste, fraud and abuse in these programs," The National News Desk reported.
- Whatley Defended the Law That Used Food Stamp Cuts to Pay for Tax Cuts in September 2026. On September 30, 2026, Whatley attacked Roy Cooper for saying he would have voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill, after WRAL described Whatley as a staunch supporter of a plan that "used cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs to help pay for income tax cuts" (WRAL).
What the SNAP Cuts Michael Whatley Backed Mean for North Carolina Families and Counties
- North Carolina counties lose about $69 million a year to run SNAP. Starting October 1, 2026, the federal share of SNAP administrative costs falls from 50% to 25%, and North Carolina counties stand to lose about $69 million, WFAE reported. "We can't staff the work we have now," said Karen Powell of the state association of county social services directors, as caseworkers face new eligibility and work rules with fewer staff.
- Bladen County expects to lose about $400,000 as caseworkers carry 300 cases each. In Bladen County, where roughly one in five residents relies on federal food assistance, the county manager estimated a loss of about $400,000, and one of the county's 12 SNAP caseworkers manages more than 300 cases, WFAE reported. Officials worry it will become harder to serve residents such as a 74-year-old SNAP recipient who relies on the senior center for at least one meal a day.
- North Carolina could owe up to $420 million a year in SNAP benefits. From October 2027, states with SNAP payment error rates above 6% may have to pay up to 15% of benefit costs, a risk North Carolina estimates at as high as $420 million a year. With the state's fiscal 2025 error rate at 7.36 percent, the NC Budget & Tax Center estimates about $140 million in new costs in fiscal 2028 if the rate is not brought below 6 percent, money that would have to come from other state services.
- 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP for groceries. SNAP helped 1,415,600 North Carolina residents in fiscal 2024, 13% of the state population, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions Michael Whatley on Food Assistance
What is Michael Whatley's record on food assistance under Trump?
Michael Whatley called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act a "huge win for all Americans!" and said it would strengthen SNAP by taking people off the program (The National News Desk). The law shifts about $69 million a year in SNAP administrative costs to North Carolina counties and exposes the state to as much as $420 million a year in benefit costs from October 2027.
What has Michael Whatley said about cutting food stamps?
Michael Whatley said in July 2025 that "by setting it up so that we are really, truly protecting America's most vulnerable, we're going to strengthen these programs for everybody that is involved," The National News Desk reported. WRAL reported that the plan he supports used cuts to food stamps to help pay for income tax cuts.
How will the SNAP changes Michael Whatley supported affect rural North Carolina counties?
Michael Whatley backed a law that cuts the federal share of SNAP administrative costs in half, and small, rural North Carolina counties like Bladen may feel the impact the most, WFAE reported. Bladen's manager said he does not want to cut staff or raise taxes and plans to scale back contractors and delay purchases instead.
Last updated: 2026-10-28