Over 1.2 Million Children Lost SNAP Benefits from July 2025 to 2026, Analysis Reveals

More than 1.2 million children lost access to food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between July 2025 and 2026, according to a new analysis. Experts have expressed concern over this decline, suggesting that the need for food assistance has not diminished. Priya Fielding-Singh, director of policy and programs at George Washington University's Global Food Institute, stated, "For kids to lose that benefit is really devastating." The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a nonpartisan research group, believes that the actual number of children who have lost food aid could exceed 1.5 million. Experts attribute the decrease in participation to cuts made by the tax and spending bill signed into law by President Donald Trump, which reduced federal spending on social safety nets by at least $1 trillion. This legislation introduced stricter work requirements for adults on SNAP and shifted more program costs to states based on their payment error rates. Overall, approximately 5 million individuals have lost access to SNAP nationwide. Fielding-Singh emphasized that SNAP is essential for families to provide adequate food for their children. Joseph Llobrera, CBPP's senior research director for food assistance, noted that the rapid decline in enrollment is alarming, as SNAP participation typically fluctuates with economic conditions. Despite a strong economy often leading to reduced SNAP participation, current economic indicators do not suggest a decreased need for assistance. CBPP's analysis included data from 25 states, which represent about 60% of all SNAP participants. The organization used this data to estimate the number of children losing benefits in other states conservatively. Some critics view the decline as a positive sign of reduced reliance on federal assistance, while others argue that many individuals who lost benefits were previously part of temporary expansions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren Bauer, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, acknowledged that while the expiration of pandemic-era changes should lead to some decline in enrollment, the current drop is more significant than expected. Changes in the law have also affected legal immigrants, including refugees and those granted asylum, who lost SNAP eligibility. The broader immigration policies may discourage eligible individuals from seeking aid due to fears of drawing attention to their immigration status. Experts highlight two major changes in the legislation that likely contribute to the reduction in child food aid: the implementation of expanded work requirements and increased scrutiny over state management of the program. Adults aged 18 to 64 with children must now demonstrate employment or participation in a work program for 80 hours a month to maintain benefits. Failure to meet these requirements can result in the loss of benefits for three years. Bauer noted that many individuals enroll in SNAP after losing their jobs, making it challenging to meet these new requirements. Additionally, families may struggle to provide documentation of their work status, further complicating their ability to remain enrolled. The upcoming requirement for states to bear more costs based on error rates, effective October 1, 2027, may also influence the decline in SNAP recipients. States are working to ensure accurate payments to households, but fluctuating error rates complicate this process. While it is difficult to establish a direct link between the threat of high error rates and the decline in recipients, Llobrera mentioned that states are demanding more documentation for enrollment and recertification. Fielding-Singh pointed out that when families lose access to food assistance, parents often sacrifice their own meals for their children. Research indicates that food insecurity negatively impacts children's health, leading to nutrient deficiencies, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. The decline in SNAP enrollment can also affect eligibility for other social safety net programs, such as the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and the National School Lunch Program. Fielding-Singh noted that as SNAP participation decreases, schools may struggle to qualify for programs that provide free meals to children in low-income areas. The U.S. government also canceled its annual Household Food Security Report, which tracked changes in food insecurity, citing it as redundant and costly. This cancellation means that 2024 will be the last year for national data on food insecurity, even as SNAP enrollment continues to decline.