SNAP Enrollment Drops 13% After Trump Work Requirements

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) decreased by 13% between July 2025 and June 2026, falling from 41.6 million to 36.5 million recipients. This decline follows the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Act by the Donald Trump administration, which expanded work requirements for individuals aged 18 to 64 without dependents under 14 and increased the share of administrative costs covered by states from 50% to 75%.

President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins characterize the reduction as a success in incentivizing employment. However, the United States Department of Agriculture noted that benefit numbers change constantly and are not representative of any single policy. The impact varied by region, with Arizona seeing a 50% drop in enrollment while Kentucky experienced a 6% decrease.

Critics and non-profit leaders argue the policy has increased food insecurity and strained food banks. Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky expressed concern that the changes are causing more people to go hungry. The enrollment drop also disqualified several schools from the Community Eligibility Provision program, including 26 in the Houston Independent School District, reducing the availability of free student meals. The Congressional Budget Office projected the changes would reduce spending by $187 billion over 10 years.