The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a megabill enacting much of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second-term policy agenda, such as slashing domestic spending programs in exchange for tax cuts and new military and border spending.
“’THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. “The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, ‘TRUMP Savings Accounts’ for newborn babies, and much more!”
The massive piece of legislation could have major impacts on the seafood sector; among the proposals being considered for the bill are significant cuts to the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), financial aid to aquaculture operations suffering from bird predation, and a provision that could improve credit accessibility for aquaculture businesses.
However, it’s unclear how many of those provisions will be included in the final language of the bill. The legislation now goes to the U.S. Senate for approval, where Republicans have a far narrower majority and have already expressed reservations about the House version of the bill.
The food industry has been deeply concerned by the cuts to SNAP, as the bill in its current form aims to slash USD 300 billion (EUR 266 billion) in nutrition spending over the next decade, pushing that financial obligation to the states. Several domestic fisheries, including the Alaska pollock sector, rely on regular SNAP contracts from the government to buy up their catch.
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has opposed the cut, noting that in addition to providing nutrition to more than 41 million Americans, SNAP is an important economic driver of the food sector. According to the NGA, the program ultimately supports some 300,000 American jobs.
“Independent grocers, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, are essential partners in delivering SNAP benefits. Cutting SNAP would harm the most vulnerable Americans and threaten the viability of community grocery stores that are depended upon by their local economies and neighborhoods,” NGA Group Vice President for Government Relations Stephanie Johnson said in a statement. “NGA proudly recognizes that SNAP is more than an anti-hunger program; it’s an economic engine that supports local businesses, strengthens communities, and supports neighbors during times of need.”
FMI – The Food Industry Association has also released a recent survey showing strong opposition to any cuts to SNAP.
“The American public is clear on this: 70 percent support SNAP, and a majority oppose any effort to reduce its funding, according to an FMI national survey by leading pollster Fabrizio, Lee, and Associates,” FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin said in a statement. “The future strength of this program isn’t just a policy issue; it’s a moral imperative and an economic necessity.”
The legislation would also cut USD 5 billion (EUR 4.4 billion) in funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also incorporates the entire language of the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act, which would – among other things – exempt loans made for fisheries and aquaculture facilities from taxes.
The legislation also includes a provision allowing aquaculture producers to receive financial compensation from USDA for losses caused by bird predation; earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation authorizing operators to cull double-crested cormorants.
The original text of the bill also rescinds all unobligated Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding allocated for coastal communities and climate resilience. The IRA was a major part of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. Using funds from the legislation, in 2023, the Biden administration announced USD 2.6 billion (EUR 2.3 billion) in funding specifically for coastal communities and climate resilience, with projects supporting salmon recovery, fisheries conservation, Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators, and other grants.
If passed, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would prevent any more of the funding from being distributed.
Trump has prioritized cutting grant funding for environmental and conservation causes in his second term. The president’s fiscal year 2025 budget outline proposes major cuts to NOAA, emphasizing the agency’s grant spending.
“NOAA’s educational grant programs have consistently funded efforts to radicalize students against markets and spread environmental alarm,” Trump's administration noted in the budget outline. “NOAA has funded such organizations as the Ocean Conservancy and One Cool Earth that have pushed agendas harmful to America’s fishing industries. These NOAA grants were funding things such as: George Mason University’s ‘Policy Experience in Equity Climate and Health’ fellowship, a workshop for ‘transgender women and those who identify as nonbinary,’ and NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships, which funded webinars that promoted a children’s book ‘designed to foster conversations about climate anxiety’ as therapy.”
In addition to cutting NOAA’s budget by USD 1.3 billion (EUR 1.1 billion), the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal also cuts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by more than 50 percent.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act would also rescind any unobligated IRA funding for improving NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary facilities.
