Overview
- Data published July 23–24, 2026 show nationwide SNAP participation has fallen by about 4.5 million people, roughly an 11% drop since the federal law took effect in July 2025.
- Arizona reported the steepest state decline with participation down roughly half from mid‑2025 to spring 2026, and Florida’s state data show a 23% drop in enrollees from June 2025 to June 2026.
- The July 2025 budget law cut roughly $187 billion from SNAP over ten years and requires states with higher payment‑error rates to pay a share of benefit costs, exposing some states to potentially large new bills.
- Facing the new fiscal exposure, states have tightened paperwork, shortened certification periods, and expanded work rules and immigrant limits, actions that researchers say have removed eligible people from rolls even as requests for help rose.
- Advocates and food‑bank operators warn charitable networks cannot replace lost benefits and say Congress could pause or revise the law to prevent further coverage loss and worsening hunger.