Enrollment in SNAP grocery aid is dropping faster than expected
New federal work rules and paperwork barriers are pushing some eligible recipients off the food aid program, with Arizona down 55%, officials said.
- Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped by more than 13% in a 12-month span, a decline far steeper than government estimates as work requirements from President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act take hold.
- The new law requires most people previously exempt to work, volunteer, or attend school, now including adults ages 55 to 64 and caregivers of children ages 14 to 17.
- In Arizona, administrative hurdles and verification requirements created barriers for applicants, driving a 55% enrollment drop—the steepest in the country—with more than 400,000 fewer people receiving benefits.
- Circana estimates total electronic benefit transfers for SNAP funds will fall by $10 billion in 2026 compared to 2025 due to lower participation, dragging down grocery sales.
- The brunt of the cuts will fall on the poorest 20% of Americans by an average of 3.8%, while a decade-long decline in household food purchases could cost farmers $24 billion.
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SN Millions Of People Have Lost Benefits Due To Trump Changes [Op-Ed]
Source: Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Last year’s Big, Beautiful Bill included some of the largest changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in decades. Since this is the Trump administration we’re talking about, none of these changes were for the better. Recent data show that SNAP enrollment has declined by over 13% in the last 12 months. AP reports that SNAP enrollment fell from 42.2 million in May 2025 to 36.6 million i…
SNAP enrollment dropping faster than expected. Here’s why
Enrollment in the biggest federally funded food aid program in the U.S. dropped by more than 13% in a 12-month span — a decline far steeper than the government estimated as work requirements and other provisions of President Donald Trump's “big beautiful bill” take hold.
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