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

The Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Act has led to a significant decrease in the number of people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) in the US. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the number of people receiving food stamps has dropped from 41.6 million in July 2025 to 36.5 million in June 2026, a 13% decrease. This change has forced more people to seek help from food banks or go hungry, stakeholders say. The Guardian — World reports that elected officials, non-profit leaders, and people with food insecurity are concerned that the changes make it harder for Americans to feed their families.

The changes to Snap, which were imposed by the Trump administration, have affected some states more than others. In Arizona, the number of people enrolled in Snap dropped by 50% between July 2025 and June 2026, while Kentucky experienced a 6% decrease. Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear, a Democrat, expressed concern that the changes are impacting children and the elderly in his state. However, Trump and US agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, described the reduction in Snap recipients as a positive.

Critics of the changes point out that despite Trump's promises, grocery and gas prices have increased during his second term, making it harder for families to afford necessities. Rhona Kamar, founder and executive director of Feed Louisville, a non-profit that aims to reduce hunger and food waste, said that the changes simply make it harder for people to feed their families.

The Trump administration's changes to Snap will reduce spending by about $187bn over 10 years, the congressional budget office projected. The changes have also increased the administrative costs for states, with states now having to cover 75% of the Snap administrative costs, up from 50% previously.