SNAP Participation Drops by 4.3 Million Amid Policy Changes

The US Department of Agriculture reported a decline of 4.3 million participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from January 2025 to January 2026. Experts attribute this drop primarily to new eligibility work requirements introduced by a major tax and spending law passed in the previous summer.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these legislative changes will reduce federal SNAP spending by $186 billion over ten years, representing roughly a 20% cut. While some argue that the improved economy, characterized by wage growth outpacing inflation, has reduced the need for food stamps, others, including Roger Figueroa, an assistant professor at Cornell University, push back against claims of widespread fraud as a driver for the decline.

Data from fiscal year 2023 indicated that only 41,476 people were disqualified for fraud out of 42 million participants. The new law, which includes stricter work requirements and raises the age threshold for exemptions, has significantly reduced access to benefits, leading to a notable decrease in SNAP enrollment.