By John Oyewale
Millions have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since new work requirements became law July 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
There have been nearly 3.5 million fewer enrollees for SNAP benefits since July 2025 as the number fell from an average of 42.1 million in the previous fiscal year to 38.5 million as of Jan. 2026, the WSJ reported, citing federal data.
The new work requirements stipulate that able-bodied and mentally fit adults aged 18–64 years old without dependents aged under 14 years old must take up paid or unpaid employment, volunteering, or a government-run work program for at least 80 hours a month, according to the outlet.
The expanded work requirements are contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law July 4, 2025, by President Donald Trump. The adult age bracket previously affected was 18–54 years old, and dependents had to be under 18 years of age, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for SNAP. (RELATED: Trump Caps July 4 With ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing)
The changes to the work requirements were the most expansive to SNAP in decades, a USDA spokesperson told the WSJ.
While illegal immigrants were never eligible for SNAP benefits, certain legal immigrants have now been restricted from accessing the benefits, the outlet reported.
All U.S. states except Alaska, Hawaii and Kentucky have seen declines in enrollment, according to a SNAP tracker run by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Alaska, Hawaii and Kentucky have seen slight increases in SNAP enrollment, the tracker shows. Puerto Rico does not receive SNAP, while the number of SNAP aid recipients in Guam has spiked by nearly 23%, according to the tracker.
Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee are some of the states with double-digit declines of less than 20%, the tracker shows. Virginia and some other affected states are trying to link affected people with job or volunteering opportunities, according to the WSJ.
Arizona has the highest decline with over 51%, as 424,000 fewer people, including 181,000 fewer children, access SNAP aid, according to the CBPP. The state incorporated the changes to the requirements as soon as the megabill was passed, the WSJ reported.
The expanded work requirements were primarily responsible for the drop, Brett Bezio, a spokesman for Arizona’s Department of Economic Security, which administers SNAP at the state level, told the WSJ.
