Summary
President Donald Trump's administration has implemented changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), introducing stricter work requirements which might cause around 2.4 million people to lose their benefits each month. These changes, predicted by the Center for American Progress, could lead to nearly 70,000 additional deaths by 2040 due to worsened health from reduced food assistance.
Key Facts
- SNAP is a program that helps about 40 million Americans with food expenses.
- New rules require many adults ages 18 to 64 without dependent children to work, train, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to retain benefits.
- Around 2.4 million people could lose food assistance each month due to these changes.
- People who might lose benefits include older adults, parents of children aged 14 and over, and veterans.
- There could be up to 69,600 additional deaths by 2040 because of these changes, according to a think tank's estimate.
- The changes are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025.
- States might find it harder to get exceptions from work requirements during tough economic times.
- States with high error rates in payments will have to pay a part of SNAP benefit costs by 2028, which may lead to some states reducing or leaving the program.
