Over 800,000 Children Lose Food Aid Under New GOP Budget Law

Nationwide SNAP participation dropped by over 4 million people—a 10% decline—between July 2025 and March 2026. Data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) highlights that Arizona alone saw enrollment plummet by more than 50%. Across 13 states, children account for nearly half of the 1.7 million total participants who have lost coverage since the law took effect.

Experts warn that the situation will likely deteriorate further. Starting in 2027, states will be forced to cover between 5% and 15% of SNAP benefit costs, with financial liability tied to current error rates. Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at CBPP, noted that states are racing to minimize exposure to these new costs, often at the expense of eligible recipients. The scale of the reduction has drawn comparisons to the 1996 welfare reform era, though analysts point out that the current decline is occurring while the national unemployment rate remains stagnant.

Critics label the policy disastrous, arguing that the financial pressure on states incentivizes the improper denial of benefits. Tahra Hoops of the Chamber of Progress described the impact as twice as severe as previous historical cuts. With the most significant fiscal changes still pending, advocates are calling on Congress to intervene before the loss of food security reaches even more vulnerable households.