SNAP Cuts Leave 3.5 Million People Without Food Benefits as Congress Trims Spending

At least 3.5 million people lost access to SNAP food assistance benefits in 2026 after Congress passed legislation cutting the program as part of a broader package of federal spending reductions.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly grocery benefits to low-income individuals and families. The cuts reduced eligibility thresholds and tightened work requirements, removing millions of recipients from the rolls.

Anti-hunger advocates said the cuts will increase food insecurity in communities that already struggle to afford groceries. Food banks across the country reported a surge in demand in the months following the cuts, with some locations running short of supplies.

The reductions were part of a larger budget reconciliation package that also made changes to Medicaid, housing assistance, and other federal programs. Supporters of the cuts argued that the changes would reduce government spending and encourage more people to enter the workforce.

Critics said the work requirements are difficult to meet for many SNAP recipients, including people with disabilities, caregivers, and those in areas with limited job opportunities.

The cuts hit hardest in rural areas and in states with high rates of poverty, where SNAP benefits often represent a significant portion of household food budgets.

Several states announced plans to use state funds to partially offset the federal cuts, but advocates said state budgets are not large enough to fill the gap for all affected families.

Congress is expected to revisit the farm bill, which governs SNAP, later in 2026, and advocates are pushing for a restoration of some of the cut benefits.