Trump's HR 1 Law Triggers Massive SNAP Enrollment Declines

One year after Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1) on July 4, 2025, multiple states are reporting significant declines in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment. The law cut $186 billion from the program and expanded work or education requirements for individuals aged 55 to 64, veterans, former foster youth, and parents of children 14 and older, while removing exemptions for homeless individuals.

Enrollment figures show steep drops in several states between July 2025 and May 2026. Tennessee lost approximately 100,000 residents from the program, with enrollment falling from 696,000 to 597,890. Pennsylvania saw an 11% decrease, from 1.96 million to 1.74 million, with the state attributing nearly 98,000 of those losses directly to the new law. Iowa reported a 9% drop, including approximately 24,000 fewer participants.

Beyond work requirements, the law increased state shares of SNAP administration costs to 75% and penalized states with payment error rates above 6%. While Iowa reduced its error rate to 5.34% to avoid these penalties, Pennsylvania's rate remains at 9.21%. Further disruptions occurred during a November 2025 government shutdown when the administration refused to fund benefits for nearly two weeks. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved waivers allowing 18 states to restrict the purchase of certain foods, such as sweetened drinks.

Critics, including the Center for American Progress, estimate that these expansions could result in nearly 70,000 deaths by 2040. Opponents characterize the legislation as a transfer of wealth from the poor to the ultra-wealthy, while the administration's policy shifts precede Medicaid work requirements scheduled for January 2027.