Trump administration has pushed off 13% of Americans enrolled in food stamps

Key Points:

• Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) in the US has dropped by 13% from 41.6 million in July 2025 to 36.5 million in June 2026 following restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, leading to increased reliance on food banks and hunger concerns.
• The Trump-era changes expanded work requirements for Snap eligibility and increased states' share of administrative costs, resulting in significant enrollment declines in some states, such as a 50% drop in Arizona and 6% in Kentucky.
• Critics argue the changes have made it harder for vulnerable populations to access food assistance without clear evidence of increased employment or wages, and rising grocery and gas prices have compounded affordability challenges.
• The reduction in Snap recipients has impacted schools' ability to provide free meals under the Community Eligibility Provision, with some schools losing eligibility and anti-hunger organizations reporting surges in demand and strained resources.
• Future policy changes requiring states to cover more costs related to Snap errors may further delay benefit processing and reduce access, raising concerns among advocates that the program is being underfunded and vulnerable populations left without support.