About 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to food assistance under federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Kentucky’s congressional delegation. The affected group includes 24,655 children and 6,572 seniors, according to Beshear. He urged federal officials to protect people who may lose benefits for reasons outside their control, saying the changes risk leaving vulnerable residents hungry. Kentucky data show 286,921 households currently receive SNAP, with benefits reaching just under 547,000 people. That is down from 627,164 recipients in October 2025. Participating households receive an average of $346 a month, according to state figures. The changes stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a broad federal budget law passed in 2025. Beginning last November, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, former foster youth and adults ages 54 to 64 lost exemptions from SNAP work-reporting requirements. The requirements apply to people receiving food aid for themselves and their families. Beshear said the policy changes are increasing the risk of hunger in Kentucky and across the country. He also warned that children could lose dependable food sources, including school meals and summer programs, and called for federal action to prevent that outcome.