New Facts: Illinois flags food aid funding gap

Illinois now faces tens of millions of dollars a year from its own budget to keep federal food assistance running. Starting October 1, Washington will cover 25% of the cost to run the program, down from 50%, leaving states to replace the lost share to maintain operations.

Local budgets are already tightening to fill the gap. A rural North Carolina county expects about $400,000 less this fiscal year for administering food aid and plans to cut back on contractors and delay purchases. At the same time, new work rules for adults up to age 64 and some parents add paperwork and eligibility checks, increasing workload as dollars fall.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources