More than 1 million children lost access to food benefits after Trump bill passed

More than a million children across the United States have lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits since Congress passed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' in July 2025. A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reveals a significant decline in participation in the federal food assistance program.

The analysis found that over 4 million Americans were removed from SNAP between July 2025 and March 2026. Arizona experienced the most substantial decrease in enrollment following the bill's enactment, which tightened eligibility rules and increased state screening requirements for food assistance. State data indicates that more than 450,000 Arizonans have been cut from SNAP, effectively halving overall participation within the state.

Children constitute a significant portion of those losing benefits, with over 1 million children in the 19 states studied no longer receiving SNAP assistance. In Louisiana, nearly a quarter of children on SNAP lost their benefits, while Massachusetts and Texas each saw approximately one-fifth of enrolled children removed from the program.

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Without immediate congressional action to delay this cost shift for all states, the unfolding emergency will only worsen as more children are cut off from the food assistance their families need to afford nutritious food.

The report coincides with a nationwide drop in SNAP participation, attributed to major reductions implemented under the Trump administration. The CBPP warns that the situation is likely to worsen without congressional intervention. Representative Ilhan Omar's attempt to reverse the SNAP cuts through an amendment was rejected by the Republican majority.

In response to the escalating crisis, the US Conference of Mayors sent a letter to the Senate signed by over 200 mayors, urging lawmakers to reverse the SNAP cuts. The organization highlighted SNAP's effectiveness in reducing poverty, supporting local economies, and acting as an automatic stabilizer during economic downturns, emphasizing that hunger is not a partisan issue.

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Snap remains the nation’s most effective and efficient anti-hunger program. It reduces poverty, supports local economies, and provides an automatic stabilizer during economic downturns. Hunger is not a partisan issue, and efforts to address food