1.2 million

Nationwide, about 8% of all veterans who have served in the United States armed forces receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when the federal government is up and running. New changes adopted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) could reduce that number substantially. Previously, veterans were granted a waiver of work requirements imposed under SNAP, but the OBBBA removed that waiver opportunity beginning in 2026. Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that they would implement the change early, beginning on October 20. United States Department of Agriculture research has found that veterans have a 7.4-percent greater risk for food insecurity than nonveterans, accounting for observable differences. 

According to a recent analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), about 4,000 Nebraskans who receive SNAP benefits are United States military veterans. Even for veterans who are not disabled, there are often barriers to transitioning into the civilian workforce, including misunderstandings about the transferability of skills, lack of formal education and difficulty adapting to civilian employment culture. As a result, many veterans pursue low-wage work that makes SNAP benefits necessary for food security. For veterans with disabilities, qualification paperwork can be complex and lengthy. The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that the average time to complete disability-related claims is about 95 days.

$11.50

President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget includes significant cuts to non-defense research and development (R&D), including a 57% reduction in the National Science Foundation, a 41% decrease in funding for the National Institutes of Health, and a 24% reduction in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a 33% cut to the Department of Energy including a 74% cut to its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and more.These reductions in funding could lead to near-immediate discontinuation of programs to explore and refine artificial intelligence and biotechnology, as well as potential cures for diseases like cancer and diabetes. They may also be shortsighted from a fiscal standpoint, with the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projecting that every $1 spent on non-defense R&D would increase the size of the economy by an average of $11.50 over 30 years.

In fiscal year 2025, the University of Nebraska Medical Center received nearly $94 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health, with 44 awards totaling more than $20 million specifically from the National Cancer Institute, designed to research various types of cancer detection and treatment. An additional 26 grants totaling about $21 million originated from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which funded heart and vascular research in addition to genome studies, or how genetics influence disease. Many of these programs are navigating additional pressure from a limitation on grant funding announced in February that is still making its way through the court system. This rule would cap non-direct research costs at 15%, which the University of Nebraska noted would result in a $27 million funding loss to the institution. 

Additionally, Governor Jim Pillen has targeted biomedical research in recent budget proposals, including an $11 million sweep of funds from the Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Fund as part of a broader strategy of reallocating cash funds to pay for general operating expenses of the state. This proposal was not adopted in the final biennial budget passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Pillen, but additional budget stress awaits the body when they convene in January. 

$20 billion

President Donald Trump has authorized a $20 billion bailout to the country of Argentina, which his office is working to double through participation by the private sector. This is in addition to the closure of the Chinese market for domestic soybean producers due to stalled trade negotiations over tariffs, which resulted in zero Chinese imports of soybeans during September. Instead, Brazil dominated the market, with 82% of Chinese imports. Purchases from Argentina soared over last year, increasing nearly 92% to 1.17 million tons, or 9% of the total. The South America country’s government has taken advantage of a new market to boost their economy, reducing previous export taxes of 26% on soybeans to 0%. 

Additionally, the President signaled intent to further boost the Argentine economy and attempt to lower beef prices for American consumers by importing more beef products. The announcement was met with resistance from American ranchers, who claim their businesses, widely suffering already due to drought and disease, would see further degradation. Additionally, DTN Progressive Farmer projects that drastic changes would need to be made in sales, shipping and infrastructure before Argentina could become enough of a factor to drive down prices. The country currently accounts for only about 2% of U.S. beef imports. 

Beef production is the largest sector of Nebraska’s agricultural economy, generating $10.6 billion in annual cash receipts. More than 50% of Nebraska’s soybeans were exported to other countries in 2023, the most recent year for which data was available. Nebraska is ranked #6 in the nation for soybean production. Preserving strong, open markets for both commodities will be critical for the state’s economy. Members of Nebraska’s federal delegation expressed concerns over the proposal in recent days, as well.