SNAP enrollment falls by 11% as new work requirements and funding cuts take effect
U.S. food assistance program participation has dropped from 42 million to 37 million recipients since July, driven by stricter eligibility rules and upcoming state cost burdens.
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has declined sharply since July, with enrollment falling from an average of 42 million to about 37 million people, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The drop coincides with the enactment of a major tax and spending bill that introduced stricter work-hour requirements for a broader range of adults and reduced eligibility for certain non-citizen groups.
Under the new law, adults must demonstrate at least 80 hours of work or volunteer service per month to qualify for benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the work-requirement changes could reduce SNAP participation by roughly 2.4 million people each month over the 2025-2034 period. In addition, the federal share of SNAP administrative costs will shrink from 50 percent to 25 percent beginning in October, leaving states to cover the remaining expenses.
The decline has been most pronounced in states such as Arizona, Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma. In Arizona, enrollment is about half of what it was a year ago, prompting food-bank officials to warn of growing demand for charitable assistance. Data from a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of 19 states shows that more than 1 million children have lost SNAP benefits since last July.
Federal officials have suggested that part of the reduction reflects people who were ineligible or an improving economy. However, analysts point to flat unemployment rates and rising food prices as evidence that policy changes, rather than reduced need, are driving the decline. State agencies also report staffing shortages and increased paperwork, which can delay benefit delivery.
Looking ahead, states may face additional financial pressures. By 2027, they will be required to contribute to the cost of food benefits if error rates exceed 6 percent, a threshold that could generate penalties of $100 million or more for many states. Some state officials are considering further eligibility cuts or even pausing the program if the new costs become unsustainable.
Industry groups note that the reduction in SNAP shoppers could cut grocery-store sales by up to $88 billion nationwide through 2034, underscoring the program’s broader economic impact.