Rockland County, NY – Rockland County legislators and local nonprofit leaders are raising concerns about a federal budget measure that they say could have serious consequences for residents relying on food assistance.
County Legislators Beth Davidson, Dana Stilley, Jesse Malowitz, and Paul Cleary met with People to People CEO Diane Serratore to highlight the potential impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), signed into law in July. The legislation includes an estimated $20 million in federal nutrition funding cuts for Rockland County, compounding shortfalls already affecting local programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
“Make no mistake: this federal government is blowing a hole in Rockland’s budget and hurting thousands of families who rely on SNAP to put food on the table,” said Legislator Davidson (Nyack/Clarkstown). “Our county has worked for more than a decade to restore fiscal stability. The SNAP cuts will leave thousands of residents, including seniors, children, and families, without enough to eat, while putting the county’s financial stability at risk.”
County Legislator Dana Stilley (Orangetown) said, “By shifting the costs of SNAP onto New York State and Rockland County, the administration is forcing local government to do more with less at a time when food insecurity is rising. People in our community will go hungry if we do not act.”
Legislator Jesse Malowitz (Suffern/Airmont) noted that the federal bill introduces new filing and certification requirements for Rockland’s Department of Social Services, potentially creating backlogs and delays in delivering benefits such as food assistance or medical care.
Legislator Paul Cleary (Haverstraw) said the human impact, citing that more than 10 percent of Rockland residents experience food insecurity despite living in one of the wealthiest counties in New York. “Cutting programs like TEFAP and SNAP is unconscionable,” Cleary said. “We must urge the federal government to restore these vital programs so nobody goes hungry.”
According to Feeding America, 40,630 people in Rockland County were food insecure in 2023, representing a 12 percent food insecurity rate. Organizations like People to People provide direct assistance to more than 5,000 residents each month, including families with children, seniors, veterans, and low-income households.
Serratore highlighted the strain on local food resources. “Last year, we received nearly 400,000 pounds of USDA food at no charge. As of August, we’ve secured less than 200,000 pounds,” she said. “With food insecurity rising due to inflation and other economic pressures, we need more support, not less. Federal funding cuts threaten our ability to help the most vulnerable.”
The legislators and Serratore called for immediate federal attention and urged officials to restore funding for essential food assistance programs, stressing that local agencies are working to fill gaps created by federal shortfalls but cannot do so alone.