Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the primary federal food aid initiative in the U.S., decreased by more than 13% over a 12-month period ending in May. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates the decline to 36.6 million participants is occurring significantly faster than the Congressional Budget Office had projected earlier this year.
The reduction follows the implementation of a new federal law that overhauled social safety net programs and revised tax policies. The legislation expanded work requirements for SNAP recipients, requiring most able-bodied adults aged 55 to 64 and those with children aged 14 to 17 to work, volunteer, or attend school to remain eligible for benefits. Previously, these groups were largely exempt from such mandates.
The decline has been most pronounced in Arizona, where enrollment fell by 55%, representing more than 400,000 people. State officials in Arizona attributed the drop to administrative hurdles and increased verification requirements that overwhelmed agency staff. Other states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and Florida, saw declines exceeding 20%. In Florida, officials stated the drop reflects a focus on helping families achieve economic self-sufficiency, while advocates in other states cited paperwork delays and missed deadlines as primary factors for loss of coverage.
The concrete day-to-day change for those losing benefits includes a reduction in purchasing power for food, leading some recipients to report skipping meals or diverting money from utility bills to buy groceries. Because SNAP enrollment often triggers automatic eligibility for other programs, families may also lose access to free school lunches and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Food banks and schools may experience increased demand as a result, though analysts from Share Our Strength stated these organizations lack the scale to fully replace federal aid.
Looking ahead, states face further administrative and financial pressure. Beginning in October 2027, states will be required to share the cost of benefits if their payment error rates—the frequency of providing too much or too little aid—exceed 6%. While the Congressional Budget Office initially expected enrollment to fall below 34 million by 2036, the current pace of decline suggests the program could reach those levels much sooner. In some regions, additional work requirements are scheduled to take effect next year, which may continue to influence enrollment trends.