Over 3.5 million low-income individuals and families have lost access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between July and February, largely due to stricter rules enacted under President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” This significant reduction in food assistance coincides with rising inflation and increased food insecurity across the U.S., with states like Arizona, Louisiana, and New York seeing dramatic declines in participation and food banks struggling to bridge the widening gap.
As consumers grapple with surging costs for essential goods like groceries and gas, a critical lifeline for millions of low-income Americans is being cut. Inflation is projected to climb further in the coming months, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Survey of Professional Forecasters. This economic pressure is exacerbating a "remarkable increase in food insecurity," as noted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, leaving countless families struggling to afford basic necessities.
A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reveals a stark reality: more than 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, have lost these vital food benefits between July and February. This represents nearly 9% of all recipients and is a direct consequence of new, more stringent rules implemented under President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill," which was signed into law last July.
This legislation introduced stricter work requirements for SNAP eligibility and shifted significant administrative and cost responsibilities onto states. While proponents argued these changes would "reduce waste" and enhance accountability, their impact has been far-reaching, fundamentally altering access to a program that served almost 42 million people nationwide in fiscal year 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The ripple effects are evident across the country. Arizona, for instance, has seen a staggering 51% decline in SNAP beneficiaries, partially attributed to existing understaffing issues alongside the new federal mandates, explains Joseph Llobrera, senior director of research at CBPP. Louisiana has experienced a 20% loss, Tennessee nearly 16%, and Virginia close to 15%. Alarmingly, this widespread drop in SNAP participation occurs while the national unemployment rate has remained steady at around 4% since July, suggesting that the decline is not due to reduced need but rather barriers to access, CBPP's report concludes.
Cars line up outside a food pantry in North Carolina, April 3, 2026. Lindsey Nicholson | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images
Changes to SNAP under Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" orchestrated significant changes, including $187 billion in cuts to SNAP, a move the Congressional Budget Office confirmed and which CBPP previously labeled the "biggest cut in the program's history" in July 2025. A key reform mandates that states contribute to the cost of SNAP benefits, a responsibility previously borne entirely by the federal government. To mitigate their financial outlay, states are incentivized to reduce "error rates" (underpayments or overpayments), a process that, according to CBPP, frequently leads to eligible individuals losing their benefits.
Beyond fiscal shifts, the legislation expanded strict work requirements. Previously, some individuals faced a three-month limit on SNAP benefits every three years unless they worked 20 hours weekly or qualified for an exemption. The new law extends these mandates to individuals aged 55-64, parents of minor children 14 and older, homeless individuals, veterans, and former foster youth. Furthermore, certain legal U.S. residents who are not citizens are now ineligible, adding layers of complexity to an already "relatively complicated" benefit calculation based on household size, income, and expenses, as described by Llobrera.
A display on the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, references Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, following the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, Nov. 14, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters
A 'mountain of paperwork' to qualify for SNAP
The bureaucratic hurdles can be overwhelming, as illustrated by Rhonda Keene, a 60-year-old Arizona resident. Facing declining health and inability to work full-time, Keene applied for SNAP in February 2026. Despite numerous requests for documentation, she has yet to receive support, calling the experience "pretty humiliating." Relying on family and odd jobs, she worries about losing her home as her retirement savings dwindle. Her plight, say experts, is not unique. Joseph Llobrera notes the "mountain of paperwork" households must submit, leading to improper denials or individuals being cut off due to difficulties navigating the system.
The economic challenges contributing to this crisis are further explored in this related segment:
VIDEO: Despite signs of a resilient economy, US consumers haven't regained confidence. (2:17)
In Arizona alone, approximately 400,000 residents have lost SNAP access due to the new federal rules, according to Claudio Rodriguez, deputy chief of community development at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. He highlights the profound difficulty many face in seeking help and the "lot of hoops" required to qualify, often for an average of $168 per month per recipient – a sum that can seem disproportionate to the hours of paperwork and phone calls involved. While the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona saw a 17% increase in donations during its recent food drive, Rodriguez, along with Jared Call, director of public policy and advocacy at California Food Banks, stresses that such efforts cannot replace federal SNAP support, which provides nine meals for every one meal a food bank delivers.
California 'bracing for impact' as SNAP changes loom
The situation is expected to worsen as more states fully implement the changes. "We are bracing for impact," says Jared Call of California Food Banks. California, which experienced over a 6% decline in SNAP participation from February 2025 to February 2026, is set to implement expanded three-month time limits on benefits starting June 1. This could lead to an estimated 55,000 to 60,000 Californians losing benefits monthly by October. California Food Banks is already serving 6 million people per month – more than at the peak of the Covid pandemic (4.5 million) – indicating a persistent, heightened need for food assistance amid rising costs and the lingering effects of the 2025 federal government shutdown, which caused a temporary lapse in benefits.
A recipient carries away food boxes at a large-scale food distribution in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, in response to the federal government shutdown and SNAP/CalFresh food benefits delays, Nov. 11, 2025. Mario Tama | Getty Images
In New York, 'the worst is yet to come'
New York faces a similar, grim forecast. Expanded work requirements took effect there on March 1, meaning beneficiaries could hit the three-month limit by June 1. Krista Hesdorfer, director of public affairs at Hunger Solutions New York, warns, "We know that the worst is yet to come in a lot of states, including New York." The state has already seen a decrease of about 150,000 SNAP beneficiaries as of February, even before the full implementation of new federal rules, which are expected to affect 300,000 to 400,000 New Yorkers. Hesdorfer expresses deep concern that many will lose critical food benefits precisely when they are struggling with escalating costs for groceries, housing, healthcare, and childcare.
Advocates fighting hunger look to Congress for help
Amidst this growing crisis, advocates are urging lawmakers to intervene. Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research and Action Center, emphasizes the need to ensure universal access to SNAP for those in need. She highlights the inherent "problematic" nature of time limits, especially in areas with high unemployment or for workers in the gig economy who face inconsistent schedules and difficulties proving compliance. The Senate's consideration of a new farm bill presents an opportunity for Congress to act.
An ad referencing SNAP benefits is displayed in the window of the now-closed Daily Table Community Grocery Store in Boston's Nubian Square, Nov. 4, 2025. Lane Turner | Boston Globe | Getty Images
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is actively campaigning for the restoration of the $187 billion cut from SNAP and a reversal of the "big beautiful" law's changes, including the expanded work requirements, according to Tia Williams, director of APHA's Center for Public Health Policy. The Center for American Progress estimates that the SNAP coverage losses resulting from the new work requirements could tragically lead to 70,000 avoidable deaths nationally by 2040. Williams asserts these cuts will have "devastating" impacts on both individual and community health, running counter to goals of reducing chronic disease.
Are you experiencing difficulties accessing SNAP benefits and willing to share your story for a future article? Email lorie.konish@cnbc.com.
