Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins warned that federal cuts to food assistance funding, which took effect Thursday, Oct. 1, could force property tax increases on local families.
In a letter sent Monday, Sept. 28, Jenkins called on every member of the county's federal delegation to push for full restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding. He framed the cuts as part of what he called a "war on Westchester."
On Oct. 1, the federal government halved its share of SNAP administrative costs, dropping from 50% to 25%. Because county governments manage food stamps in New York, that gap falls directly on local budgets.
Statewide, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) estimates the shift puts at least $168 million in new annual costs on New York's counties and New York City combined, News10 reported. Almost 3 million New Yorkers rely on roughly $7.6 billion in fully federally funded SNAP benefits each year, according to NYSAC. New York public radio has estimated Westchester's share of the cost shift at roughly $4.5 million per year, though the county has not confirmed that figure.
Jenkins said Westchester "will be forced to pick up the majority of the tab for SNAP." He warned that would mean "an increase in property taxes on our already overburdened families in order to fill the funding gap that the Administration itself created."
The U.S. House voted on May 22, 2025, to advance a reconciliation bill that cut $300 billion from SNAP. President Trump signed those cuts into law on July 4, 2025. At the time, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated more than 36,000 people would lose SNAP benefits across the Hudson Valley.
According to Jenkins' letter, 41% of Westchester households cannot afford basic necessities including housing, food, healthcare, childcare and transportation.
The county has taken steps to cushion the blow. Westchester launched a "Protect Your SNAP" program to help families comply with new federal rules and allocated funding to support food security programs affected by the cuts, according to a county press release.
Jenkins also said the federal government fired all staff from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which he warned puts Westchester families at risk of going without heat this winter.
On the political front, Jenkins said Congressman George Latimer has committed to work with Congressional leadership to rescind the SNAP cuts and restore full funding. Jenkins asked the rest of the delegation to join that effort.
No responses from other members of Westchester's federal delegation appeared in public records as of publication. The county has not announced a public hearing or budget session tied to the cost shift. Residents seeking help with SNAP compliance can contact the county's "Protect Your SNAP" program.
