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More people in the U.S. are reportedly losing food assistance due to a law that was enacted last July
According to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research and policy institute, deep cuts have been made to federal funding for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program since the Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025 was implemented
Researchers estimate that SNAP participation nationwide has fallen by more than 4.5 million people, or 11%, since the “Big Beautiful Bill” went into place in July 2025
The Associated Press reported that the tax and spending bill was nearly 900 pages and included a collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and new money for national defense and deportations
Among the included spending cuts were to such government programs as SNAP
Republicans reported at the time the bill was trying to balance the safety net programs for the population they were designed to serve while rooting out waste, fraud and abuse
When it comes to the SNAP participation declines reported since the bill’s implementation, Arizona has seen the most among U.S. states
According to the institute’s report, Arizona has seen a 55% decline from July 2025 to April 2026. Other states that have also reportedly seen the steepest downtrends are Louisiana at 21%, Florida at 19% and Oklahoma at 18%
Researchers said they expect these declines to continue as states fully implement eligibility restrictions and take actions to lower their error rates
Republicans said the bill will save on federal government spending while holding states accountable and making those that have higher payment errors regarding SNAP benefits pick up some of the program costs
According to the Department of Agriculture, more than 37 million people nationwide received SNAP benefits in March, a drop of nearly 5 million from a year earlier
The USDA has also shared information for those interested in applying for SNAP benefits, along with the latest qualifications
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