Federal cuts to SNAP could mean up to 100 lost jobs at UK. Here’s why
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- SNAP-Ed funding ends Sept. 30, risking over 100 job losses in Kentucky.
- University of Kentucky may lay off staff as SNAP-Ed funds are fully cut.
- SNAP changes could impact 562,000 Kentuckians.
As many as 100 employees in a Kentucky program that provides education to people who receive federal food assistance could be facing layoffs in coming weeks after Congress slashed its funding.
As part of the cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, included in a spending and tax bill passed by Congress July 4, funding for the education arm of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP-Ed has been zeroed out, state officials said this week.
That funding will run out Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year.
According to federal documents, Kentucky received $11.2 million in SNAP-Ed funding in 2025.
More than 100 full-time employees at the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service, which runs the majority of the education program, could face layoffs once funding runs dry, university officials said.
“UK’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) administers this critical program for the state through our Cooperative Extension offices,” said Jay Blanton, a spokesperson for UK.
“While we are still analyzing this legislation, we know that the complete elimination of these dollars after the end of federal fiscal year will require a reduction in force. CAFE leaders are having difficult conversations about how best to move forward.”
In addition to the 100 full-time employees that are part of the education program, the federal SNAP grant also pays for parts of salaries of several part-time employees, Blanton said.
Kentucky State University also receives funding for SNAP-Ed, according to federal documents.
Jessica Holman, a spokeswoman for Kentucky State, said the university did not have a comment on whether staff at the Frankfort university would also face cuts.
Officials with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which oversees SNAP benefits across the state, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It’s not clear if the cabinet will also lay off staff due to the cuts to SNAP.
What is SNAP-Ed?
SNAP-Ed helps those with food insecurities learn proper nutrition through one-on-one coaching, classes, recipes and other programs, according to its website.
The program works with “limited resource families with young children and SNAP eligible individuals how to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget, acquire safe food handling practices, improve food preparation skills, and change behavior necessary to have a healthy lifestyle.”
According to its 2024 impact report, SNAP-Ed in Kentucky reached more than 280,000 adults and 312,000 kids. People enrolled in multi-part food education programs also showed better nutritional outcomes, the impact report said.
In addition to the expected layoffs, changes to the SNAP program included in President Donald Trump administration-backed “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” would also up work requirements for those receiving food assistance and transfer more funding to the states.
The program is currently 100% federally funded. The SNAP cuts are estimated to be $230 billion over 10 years.
The cuts to SNAP and Medicaid were needed to offset tax cuts the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said will disproportionately help the wealthiest Americans.
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a think tank that has studied the potential impacts of changes to the SNAP program, has estimated the changes could mean many of the 562,000 people who receive SNAP benefits could be at risk for having those benefits reduced ore eliminated.
As many Republicans rail about how SNAP benefits are spent —including banning sugary colas and drinks in some states -—cutting the educational program that helps SNAP recipients plan and budget for healthier meals seems contrary to those complaints, said Jessica Klein, a policy associate with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.
“SNAP Restrictions are not an evidence based public health approach to improve healthy food consumption,” Klein said. “We also know that SNAP participants have similar purchasing behaviors as non-participants with similar incomes.
“It is concerning to Kentucky’s health that in addition to creating barriers to food assistance, H.R. 1 eliminates the SNAP Education program and the adjustment to SNAP benefits that takes into consideration the costs of healthy foods, known as the Thrifty Food Plan.”
