SNAP Enrollment Drops After the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” Cuts

In July 2025 President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), legislation that enacted the deepest reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid in U.S. history. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reports that the law’s funding cuts have already removed roughly 5.5 million people—about 13 % of SNAP recipients—from the program, including an estimated 2 million children.

Common Dreams

CBPP’s analysis shows state-by-state declines, with Arizona’s enrollment falling by nearly 51 % and caseloads dropping 20 % or more in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas, and Texas. In absolute terms, Texas lost 709,435 enrollees, Florida 665,935, Arizona 408,204, and California 333,062. A separate study by Unrig Our Economy and Americans for Tax Fairness estimates that 1.5 million Latino households were removed from SNAP, concentrated in Texas (396,164) and Arizona (200,124). CBPP warns that, beginning in October 2027, most states will be required to cover 5-15 % of SNAP costs, creating incentives for further enrollment reductions.

Common Dreams

The SNAP cuts, combined with tighter eligibility rules, have forced school districts to curtail universal free-meal programs. The Washington Post notes that the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals in a rural Indiana district fell from 66 % to 44 % within a year, while lunch debt there reached $10,000. In San Antonio, Texas, schools offering free meals to all students dropped from 48 to 16. Nationwide, the number of children receiving free school lunches declined by 600,000 between fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Food-bank leaders report rising demand as families lose both SNAP benefits and school meals.

Common Dreams

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has condemned the cuts, writing that “SNAP participation is falling because the Trump administration has intentionally kicked people off of the program—leaving Americans hungry and still struggling to afford food.” She urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reverse the reductions and highlighted a “Food Misery Index” that attributes more than $22 billion in lost household resources to the combined effect of SNAP cuts and rising grocery prices.

Common Dreams

• “It’s been getting out of control since last year,” — Paco Vélez, president and chief executive of the Feeding South Florida food bank

Common Dreams

• “SNAP participation is falling because the Trump administration has intentionally kicked people off of the program—leaving Americans hungry and still struggling to afford food,” — Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Common Dreams

• “With grocery prices and food insecurity on the rise,” — Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Common Dreams