Statement attributed to Chris Bernard, President & CEO, Hunger Free Oklahoma
1/26/26 – Tulsa, OK: Hunger Free Oklahoma has consistently championed the efficient and fair administration of government programs that support long-term economic stability for Oklahomans. We support Governor Stitt’s calls for increased transparency, reduced bureaucracy, and thoughtful mitigation of benefit cliffs to improve program operations.
Helping families reach stability is a shared goal. But true compassion requires ensuring people can meet their basic needs while they work toward that stability. Hunger is not a motivator; it is a barrier. Families cannot pursue employment, education, or job training if they are worried about their next meal.
While Hunger Free Oklahoma is encouraged by some aspects of Governor Stitt’s recent Executive Order, we also have serious concerns.
Benefits programs are workforce supports, not deterrents.
Decades of evidence show programs like SNAP help people afford food while seeking work, maintaining employment, or increasing earnings. Most SNAP participants who can work already do, often cycling on and off assistance as circumstances change. Framing these programs as barriers to work undermines their proven role in promoting stability and economic participation.
State agencies need sufficient resources to meet their intended goals.
State agencies administering these programs do not lack authority, they lack capacity. Without adequate staffing and modern systems, additional administrative directives will not meaningfully improve outcomes for taxpayers or families. Efficiency and program integrity require investment, not flat budgets.
Block grants are not the answer.
Block grants replace responsive, need-based funding with a fixed pot of money, shifting risk to states and limiting the ability to adjust when costs rise or more families need help. Oklahoma families should not face hunger simply because federal support fails to keep pace with rising costs or economic shocks.
Hunger Free Oklahoma stands ready to work with policymakers and partners to advance solutions that are grounded in evidence and centered on dignity. This means addressing benefits cliffs in ways that truly encourage work and upward mobility, investing in the staffing and systems necessary for efficient and accountable program administration, and protecting access to programs that respond to economic realities. Together, we can ensure that public assistance policies strengthen family stability, workforce participation, and the shared goal of a stronger Oklahoma.
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Hunger Free Oklahoma is an anti-hunger organization dedicated to improving food access for all Oklahomans. HFO leverages the power of collaboration to solve hunger in Oklahoma by improving systems, policies, and practices. Learn more at HungerFreeOK.org.