About 3.5 million Americans lose SNAP food benefits as Trump bill cuts take effect
More than 3.5 million people have lost access to SNAP benefits after work requirements and new state contributions in President Donald Trump's tax-and-spending package began taking effect, according to a CNBC-cited analysis. Anti-hunger groups warn the cuts could deepen food insecurity in lower-income households.
Changes to the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have ended benefits for at least 3.5 million recipients, CNBC reported, citing analyses from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Urban Institute. The largest share of losses falls on childless adults aged 18 to 54, who again face a 20-hour weekly work requirement to remain eligible.
The package, marketed by the Trump administration as the 'big beautiful bill,' also asks states to absorb part of the program's cost for the first time. A White House spokesperson defended the changes as a structural reform aimed at reducing dependency, while Democratic lawmakers argued that low-income families and people in regions with weak labour markets would be cut off without meaningful warning.
Major retailers including Walmart, Kroger and Dollar General derive 4 to 8 percent of annual sales from SNAP spending and have warned of softer demand in low-income corridors. The anti-hunger group Feeding America reported a 14 percent rise in food-bank requests over the past three weeks. Officials say case numbers could grow further as the summer's seasonal-employment rules take effect.
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