More than 4 million Americans were removed from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between July 2025 and March 2026, resulting in a significant decline in participation in the federal food assistance program. Among those affected, over 1 million children across 19 states lost access to SNAP benefits following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

The legislation, approved by Congress and supported by former President Trump, tightened eligibility rules for food assistance and increased state screening requirements. It also shifted a substantial share of SNAP benefit costs to states based on their payment error rates, a change linked to the steep decline in program participation.

Arizona experienced the largest drop in enrollment, with state data through May showing that more than 450,000 Arizonans have come off SNAP, cutting overall participation in the state by half.

The CBPP warned that without immediate congressional action to delay this cost shift, the situation will worsen, with more children being cut off from essential food assistance. In response to the deepening food security crisis, a nonpartisan organization representing cities with populations of at least 30,000 sent a letter to the Senate signed by over 200 mayors, urging lawmakers to reverse the SNAP cuts. The letter emphasized that SNAP reduces poverty, supports local economies, and acts as an automatic stabilizer during economic downturns, stating, “Hunger is not a partisan issue, and efforts to address food insecurity should rise above political divisions.”

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