Analysis finds more than 4 million Americans lost Snap benefits, or food stamps, from July 2025 to March 2026

Arizona recorded the largest drop in enrollment after the bill became law. The legislation tightened eligibility rules for food assistance and increased state screening requirements. State data through May shows that more than 450,000 Arizonans have come off Snap, cutting overall participation within the state in half.

According to the CBPP analysis, children make up a significant portion of those losing benefits, with more than 1 million children across the 19 states studied no longer receiving Snap assistance.

In Louisiana, nearly one in four children receiving Snap benefits lost assistance. Massachusetts and Texas each saw close to one-fifth of children enrolled in the program removed from Snap.

And further below, the cause for the suffering of children:

The report says the steep decline in participation is likely tied in large part to the 2025 Republican reconciliation law, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which shifted a substantial share of Snap benefit costs to states based on their payment error rates.

    • mildseason@sopuli.xyz
      11·
      2 days ago

      It is. It may not be provided in many countries and that is something we should aim to fix, but as a human being you are entitled to free food.

        • mildseason@sopuli.xyz
          2·
          1 day ago

          I suppose the caveat is, you have to be unable to afford it to recieve it for free. Like you, I have a high enough income that I’m not entitled to free food. It’s good to know that it’s available if i fall on hard times though. I’d like to see it expanded not reduced.

          • GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world
            1·
            14 hours ago

            And that’s why it’s a government benefit and not a human right. Human rights apply to everyone at all times.

            From what I’ve read, the new rules are trying to make sure that only people who really need the “free” food are getting it. If the states won’t keep records and means test to ensure this, their federal funding will reduce and the state will have to use their own money to make up the difference.

            As someone who detests government waste and fraud, that sounds like a good thing. Tax revenue isn’t something that should be wasted. Every person getting handouts from tax money should be properly vetted to make sure they actually qualify/need it.

            Every cent of government spending should be audited and publicly available. The only people against that are people who benefit from the waste/fraud.

            • mildseason@sopuli.xyz
              2·
              11 hours ago

              Ok yeah I see what you mean. Definitely agree about government spending being auditable and public. And obviously wasted taxes are bad. But I’d argue taxes are never wasted on feeding the population, especially children!

              • GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world
                1·
                10 hours ago

                If they’re being spent feeding children who live in households who can afford to feed them but are fraudulently getting taxpayer funded food, then that’s taking food off the plate of a kid who’s parents genuinely can’t afford it. That’s what needs to stop, and that’s what the new laws are trying to do - make sure the money goes to those who need it.

                • mildseason@sopuli.xyz
                  1·
                  4 hours ago

                  Does the US need a war with Iran. Does it need to invest so heavily in AI. I’d say no. I’d say that money would be far better spent providing support to the next generation. Or literally anything else. Green tech, healthcare, education are far more worthy causes than tax cuts for the rich.