Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has decreased by 13% over the past year, with 36.6 million individuals receiving benefits as of May 2026, down from 42.2 million in May 2025. This marks a return to pre-COVID levels and an achievement the Congressional Budget Office had projected would not occur until 2030.
The Trump administration's reforms, enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), expanded work and training requirements for SNAP recipients. The reforms raised the upper age limit for adults subject to these requirements from 55 to 64, included parents with children aged 14 and older (previously 18), and extended requirements to able-bodied homeless adults. These changes aim to encourage recipients to engage in work, training, or volunteer activities to maintain benefits.
While it is not precisely determined how much of the 5.6 million-recipient decrease is due to increased employment and earnings, historical data suggests a correlation between stricter work requirements and employment gains. Reforms implemented in 1996 under President Bill Clinton's welfare legislation led to significant increases in employment, particularly among single, low-income mothers, and a subsequent drop in poverty rates.
These measures align with the stated intention of SNAP as a "bridge to independence, not a long-term lifestyle," as noted by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.). Similarly, then-Senator Joe Biden emphasized during the 1996 reform debates the need to replace "the culture of welfare" with "the culture of work."
In addition to work requirements, a separate Trump administration initiative allowing states to restrict SNAP benefits for candy and sugary drinks has also shown results. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found a 12% decrease in soda sales among SNAP recipients in states that implemented such bans. These reforms collectively aim to promote more independent and healthier lifestyles among recipients.