SNAP Enrollment Drops 4.3 Million in 2025-2026

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a decline of 4.3 million participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, citing preliminary federal data from January 2025 to January 2026. The drop, from about 42.83 million to 38.55 million enrollees, accelerated after the enactment of a major budget law in July 2025.

Rollins attributed the reduction to a stronger economy, wage growth outpacing inflation and reduced fraud. In social media posts and public remarks, she stated, "As of just a couple of days ago, we now have moved 4.3 million Americans off of the food stamp program. A lot of that is fraud. A lot of it is people taking the program that shouldn't have been. And a lot of it is just a better economy." She described the change as leaving benefits "for those who truly need them."

The decline sharpened following the passage of the 940-page One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or H.R. 1, signed by President Donald Trump. The law expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, raising the age limit from 54 to 64 and requiring at least 80 hours per month of work or program participation. It also narrowed exemptions by lowering the age...