A new set of federal figures shows a significant reduction in food assistance enrolment across the United States. The decline follows the implementation of updated eligibility and work requirements under legislation introduced during President Donald Trump’s second administration.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the country’s largest anti-hunger scheme, recorded a drop of around 5 million recipients between January 2025 and February 2026, according to data reported by Newsweek from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
SNAP provides monthly support to low-income households through electronic benefit cards that can be used at approved retailers. While participation had already been declining during the first half of 2025, the pace of the reduction accelerated after new rules were introduced and later implemented by states.
Largest Declines Concentrated in Several States
According to USDA figures, SNAP enrolment fell from 42.8 million recipients in January 2025 to 37.8 million by February 2026, representing an 11 per cent decline over just more than a year. The latest monthly data showed that roughly 668,000 recipients left the programme between January and February 2026 alone.
Georgia recorded the largest numerical decline, with 642,628 fewer recipients receiving assistance. Florida followed with a reduction of 489,321 recipients, while Arizona saw a decline of 449,500. Texas reported 377,254 fewer participants and California recorded a decrease of 335,248. Together, these five states accounted for a substantial share of the nationwide reduction.
When measured as a percentage of total enrollment, Arizona experienced the most pronounced decline. According to the USDA data, participation in the state fell by 50.03 per cent during the period examined.
Georgia recorded the second-largest percentage decrease at 33.17 per cent. North Carolina followed with a decline of 20.19 per cent, while Louisiana registered a reduction of 17.49 per cent. Only two states moved in the opposite direction. Alaska reported an increase in SNAP participation of 5.45 per cent, while Hawaii recorded a rise of 1.95 per cent.
Work Requirements and Compliance Rules Reshape Enrolment
The sharp decline coincided with changes introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which expanded work requirements and tightened eligibility standards for some recipients.
Under the updated rules, certain SNAP beneficiaries must work, volunteer, or take part in education or job-training programmes for at least 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month, in order to qualify for or retain benefits.
The expanded requirements apply to individuals aged between 18 and 64 who do not have a dependent child under the age of 14 and who are considered physically and mentally able to work. Veterans and current or former foster youth aged between 18 and 24 are no longer exempt from these requirements.
Falling participation does not necessarily indicate that millions of recipients have exceeded income limits. In many cases, benefits may end because recipients miss reporting deadlines, fail to complete paperwork, or encounter difficulties during the recertification process.
Recipients are generally required to recertify their eligibility every three to six months, depending on state regulations. Benefits can be terminated if documentation is incomplete or if work-related conditions are not met.
Although the legislation was signed into law in July 2025, states introduced the changes gradually. Full compliance was required by the USDA’s 1 November deadline. According to the figures, SNAP participation fell by roughly 3.4 million people between August 2025 and January 2026, with the largest single-month decline occurring between October and November 2025, when more than 1.09 million recipients left the programme.
