SNAP Enrollment Drops Below 40 Million in December 2025

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, fell below 40 million people for the first time in more than a year, reaching approximately 39.5 million in December 2025, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. The decline coincides with heightened scrutiny over program eligibility loopholes and fraud, exemplified by a retired Minnesota millionaire who qualified for benefits despite substantial assets.

The drop marks the first time enrollment has dipped under that threshold since September 2024. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins attributed the reduction to administration efforts to strengthen oversight and promote self-sufficiency. In interviews, she stated that since President Donald Trump took office, officials have removed 3.3 million individuals from the program, transitioning many into employment. "We moved 3.3 million people off of food stamps, into work, and into a better life of dignity," Rollins said. She described the changes as a response to vulnerabilities exposed during the 2025 government shutdown, which delayed some benefit payments and prompted legal challenges.

A prominent case in Minnesota has fueled calls for reform....