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Arizona Seniors at Risk Amid Ongoing Cuts to Federal Food Assistance Programs

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Federal cuts to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) are already having a profound impact on seniors in Southern Arizona.

In early 2025, the federal government announced cuts exceeding $1 billion for funding to programs that support local food purchases for schools and food banks. This decision directly affected CSFP, the only government nutrition program specifically targeting low-income seniors aged 60 and older.

CSFP provides monthly packages of nutritious food, vital for seniors who often live on fixed incomes and face rising living costs. In response to these cuts, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (CFB) was forced to remove support for 369 local seniors.

Potential Federal Cuts

The challenges continue to mount for an already vulnerable community, with potential cuts to other federally funded food assistance programs on the horizon.

In late May, the House of Representatives, by one vote, passed a massive domestic policy package that includes steep cuts to federal assistance programs like SNAP and Medicaid. 

If passed, these federal cuts could prove especially challenging to communities like Green Valley, where a large population of retirees and older adults depend heavily on food assistance programs. In May 2025, nearly 60% of the neighbors served at the Community Food Bank in Green Valley were over the age of 60.

An estimated 10.5% of seniors in Arizona face food insecurity. The emotional toll of this can be profound, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression among those affected.

“Neighbors have shared with us that without these programs, it would be difficult to make it through the month. Some have had to rely on the assistance of others to feed their pets,” said Monica Gonzalez, Associate Director of the Community Food Bank in Green Valley. “The seniors we serve depend on us to stretch their benefits to make it through each month.”

The Burden Shifts

Any federal cuts to food assistance programs would force most of the cost burden to individual states and organizations like community food banks.

 A recent study by US News and World Report estimates that proposed cuts to SNAP could cost Arizona between $110 and $552 extra per person for the 900,000 plus enrolled in the program.[1]

Community food banks like CFB, already feeling the strain from the cuts to CSFP, and the cancellation of $1 billion in funding to the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) would also be further stretched to their limits.

“We have needed to reduce the number of food items per box in our TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) boxes. This includes cancelled bonus items, which include produce, meat, and dairy,” said Norma Aguilar, CFB Director of Supply Chain.

“With unpredictable USDA funding, we are relying more than ever on charitable contributions to support our mission to provide locally sourced, nutritious food to our underserved individuals and communities.”

Where Things Stand Today

As of publication of this article, the tax bill has progressed to the United States Senate, where potential amendments could require another vote in the House.

In response, local organizations such as the Community Food Bank, along with advocates across the country, remain hopeful and are urging action to protect funding for SNAP and Medicaid – vital safety nets for seniors nationwide.

In a recent letter from AARP to Congress, the senior advocacy organization said they were “concerned” with the proposed cuts to SNAP, a “lifeline for millions of older adults facing rising food prices and financial strain.”

“Millions of older Americans have worked hard, played by the rules, and now find themselves barely getting by. What they need are common-sense policies that lower costs, make health care more affordable, and reflect the contributions they’ve made to this country.” [2]

What You Can Do

The Community Food Bank is asking that you reach out to your local representatives to advocate for the full funding of all federal nutrition programs. You can find more information at www.communityfoodbank.org/get-involved/protecting-snap/

[1] https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2025-05-22/map-see-how-cuts-to-snap-food-assistance-would-affect-your-state

[2] https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/politics/advocacy/2025/05/2025-05-21-aarp-reconciliation-bill-letter.pdf