WASHINGTON —
The number of households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, fell to 19.8 million in June, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s down nearly 12% from the same time last year.
The decline in SNAP participation comes after federal policy changed the program’s eligibility rules and work requirements. Participation is now similar to what it was in March 2020. SNAP helps provide food assistance to eligible low-income households.
What changes were made to SNAP?
President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” known as H.R. 1, into law last July, requiring many SNAP recipients to work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month. The legislation also raised the age limit of people who need to meet these requirements from 54 to 64.
Another change requires states to cover 75% of the program’s administrative costs starting Oct. 1, while the federal government will pay the remaining 25%. Starting next year, states will be responsible for covering SNAP benefits costs associated with payment error rates above 6%.
Some states have begun reducing SNAP participation to lower their payment error rates and cut program costs, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
How did monthly SNAP participation change?
With the new stricter requirements, SNAP participation has declined across the country. Arizona, Nevada and Oklahoma had some of the largest drops in household participation from June 2025 to June 2026, at 49%, 28% and 21%, respectively.
Nine states saw more than 100,000 households dropped from the program. Florida had the largest decrease, with more than 293,000 fewer participating households in June.
Alaska was the only state where household participation increased. It was up slightly, by 4%, in June.
See how household participation in SNAP changed in each state from June 2025 to June 2026.
