SNAP Enrollment Drops as States Face Higher Funding Burdens
President Donald Trump's tax and spending laws have reduced SNAP enrollment and shifted 75% of administrative costs to U.S. states, triggering widespread benefit losses.
National enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fell nearly 13% to 36.4 million people by June 2026, including 1.5 million children. Donald Trump attributes the decline to a strong economy, but the drop is linked to a July 2025 tax-and-spending law that expanded work requirements for adults up to age 64 and removed eligibility for refugees and asylum seekers.
Effective October 1, 2026, states must now fund 75% of SNAP administrative costs, an increase from 50%. This shift has created significant financial pressure, with California facing an estimated $670 million increase. Starting in October 2027, states with payment error rates exceeding 6% must also fund up to 15% of actual benefit costs. In response, some states like Arizona have implemented stricter paperwork requirements, causing processing delays and a nearly 50% drop in enrollment.
Regional impacts are severe. Pennsylvania has seen 234,000 people lose benefits since July, while Kansas reported 31,000 losses between September 2025 and July 2026. In Kansas, lawmakers are now considering a bipartisan proposal to automatically enroll households qualifying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families into SNAP to reduce administrative hurdles.
Political deadlock persists in the United States Congress over a new farm bill. The Democratic Party is demanding a two-year delay on the new state funding burdens, while the Republican Party has proposed a one-year delay.
