WASHINGTON, D.C. — Millions of Americans lost access to federal food assistance in the months following a major 2025 law that tightened eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
A study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that about 2.5 million people—roughly 6% of SNAP recipients—were no longer receiving benefits by the end of 2025 after President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The analysis, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture and state data, also cited a broader decline of 3.4 million participants over the full year.
The law introduced expanded work requirements, increased reporting obligations, and shifted some program costs to states. Researchers said these changes may have created incentives for states to restrict access, even as economic conditions such as unemployment and food prices did not significantly improve.
Arizona saw the sharpest decline, with nearly half of its SNAP recipients—about 424,000 people—losing benefits, according to the report. State officials attributed the drop in part to the new federal law, though researchers suggested additional administrative decisions may have contributed.
Federal officials defended the decline, saying reduced enrollment reflects efforts to strengthen program integrity and ensure benefits reach those most in need.
Many provisions of the law, including penalties tied to state error rates, are not set to take effect until 2028.
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