New Trump administration eligibility rules for federal food aid have removed nearly 3.5 million people from the program, sparking concerns over rising food insecurity amid higher living costs.
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US Food Aid Declines by 3.5 Million People After New Work Rules
(P1) Enrollment in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has fallen by nearly 3.5 million people since stricter work and eligibility requirements became law in July 2025, a shift that government estimates suggest will cut federal spending by nearly $70 billion over the next decade.
(P2) "These large state drops in SNAP caseloads represent a fundamental restructuring of the food-assistance safety net," said Colleen Heflin, a professor at Syracuse University who studies food insecurity. "We should expect to see a surge in food insecurity and its related negative consequences at new levels."
(P3) The rule changes, enacted as part of President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," saw the number of SNAP recipients fall from an average of 42.1 million in the last fiscal year to 38.5 million by January 2026, according to federal data. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the tighter work requirements alone will reduce spending by $68.6 billion over roughly the next decade. Some states have seen dramatic declines, with Arizona reporting a drop of approximately 50% in the number of recipients.
(P4) The policy shift tightens the social safety net at a time when many households are already struggling with inflation and high living costs, which could dampen consumer spending and increase the burden on local food banks. The changes took effect as food costs rose 3.1% in 2025, with a further 2.9% increase expected in 2026, creating a potential clash between fiscal savings and growing economic hardship for low-income families.
Stricter Requirements Drive Enrollment Down
The new federal rules mandate that able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without children under 14 must work, volunteer, or participate in a job-training program for at least 80 hours a month. This expands the previous age limit of 54 and narrows exemptions for parents. The legislation also ends eligibility for certain non-U.S. citizens who are in the country legally and restricts states' ability to waive work requirements in areas with high unemployment.
The Trump administration attributes the decline to a strong economy and rooting out fraud, but some experts dispute this. "We have a persistent poverty problem in this country," said Kate Bauer, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, in comments to The Associated Press. "And most people, even in good economic times, are not able to pull their families out of poverty." Data from 2023 shows that less than 1% of the 42 million participants were removed for fraud.
States and Families Feel the Impact
The effects of the new rules are being felt across the country. In addition to Arizona's 50% caseload reduction, Virginia has seen a 13% drop since last summer. Officials in Illinois warned that up to 120,000 people in the state could lose their food benefits.
Even in more affluent areas, the pressure is mounting. On Long Island, New York, the number of households receiving SNAP benefits had already been growing since 2020 due to the region's cost-of-living crisis. In Suffolk County, households on the program increased by 34% between 2020 and 2025. Now, local food banks report seeing more working families and even those from expensive enclaves seeking assistance.
"On Long Island, you could be making what other people might think is a good salary, and still need assistance to get by," said Gregory May, director of government and community relations at Island Harvest Food Bank.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
[1] More Than Three Million People Have Lost Federal Food Aid - WSJ[2] Why the food subsidy SNAP is going to more Long Island families, and not just those in poverty[3] SNAP cuts, work rules, and Medicaid changes spark nationwide debate[4] Nearly 4.3 million Americans lost SNAP benefits last year[5] Fox joined the Trump administration in celebrating as millions of Americans are...
