New federal data released in May reveal that enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program – fell by more than 13 percent over the past 12 months, dropping from 42.2 million participants in May 2025 to 36.6 million in May 2026. The decline is far steeper than the U.S. Department of Agriculture had projected when the Trump administration’s tax and welfare‑reform legislation took effect.
State‑by‑state drops highlight administrative challenges
Arizona experienced the sharpest decline, with enrollment falling more than 50 percent in the past year, according to USDA figures. Georgia, Louisiana and Nevada each saw drops of over 20 percent, while Florida reported a 22 percent reduction, which state officials linked to a focus on “economic self‑sufficiency.”
State agencies that administer SNAP have reported being overwhelmed by the new federal requirements. In Arizona, the Department of Economic Security said the surge in verification calls and paperwork created “real barriers for applicants.” The agency has responded by hiring additional staff and expanding online document submission, which it says has helped slow the decline in recent months.
Work requirements and paperwork drive losses
The 2024‑25 law expanded work requirements for SNAP recipients. Previously, most adults under 55 without minor children were already required to work, volunteer or attend school to qualify. The new rules now extend those obligations to adults ages 55‑64 and to parents of children ages 14‑17, while preserving exemptions for seniors, young children, and those with health limitations.
Analysts say the enrollment drop is a mix of people who no longer meet the work criteria and those who are lost in the administrative process. Tia Fields of Invest in Louisiana emphasized that “a lot of it is administrative paperwork,” noting that missed deadlines and missing documentation can cause eligible families to lose benefits.
Heritage Foundation research fellow Rachel Sheffield, a proponent of the stricter requirements, argued that the reductions may reflect “people that are leaving the welfare rolls because they’re working and they’re moving forward,” suggesting the policy is achieving its intended goal of reducing fraud and encouraging self‑sufficiency.
Impact on families and local safety nets
SNAP provides an average monthly benefit of $344 per household and helps more than one in ten Americans purchase groceries. The program also serves as a gateway to other nutrition services, such as free school lunches and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. When SNAP enrollment falls, children in low‑income households may lose automatic access to these additional supports.
Advocates warn that the decline could strain food banks and school nutrition programs. “We know that no other organization or program can replicate the scale and success of SNAP,” said Carolyn Vega of Share Our Strength. “Schools can’t fill this gap. Food banks can’t fill this gap.”
Future projections and cost‑sharing
The Congressional Budget Office projects that SNAP enrollment will continue to fall, potentially dropping below 34 million by 2036. The office also noted that states will soon be required to share a portion of the program’s costs if their payment error rates exceed 6 percent, a rule slated to begin in October 2027. Some states fear they may deny benefits to avoid error penalties.
While the data are preliminary and may be revised, the rapid decline underscores the challenges of implementing sweeping welfare‑reform measures at the state level and raises concerns about food security for vulnerable families across the country.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
