The Trump administration has transformed nearly every aspect of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through legislation and regulatory changes over the past year. SNAP participation has dropped from nearly 43 million to under 40 million since January 2025, representing the largest cut in federal funding for the program since its inception.

The $186 billion in cuts over a decade—equivalent to 20 percent of program funding—stem from Trump's signature domestic policy bill signed last July. The legislation imposed stricter work requirements, eliminated eligibility for certain lawful immigrants like refugees, capped future benefit increases, and altered deductions for utilities and internet bills. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called SNAP a "handout that threatens to trap Americans in a vicious cycle of government dependence."

Adults under 65 without children under 14 can now receive benefits for only three months every three years unless they work, volunteer, or participate in work training for at least 80 hours monthly. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the work requirements alone will reduce monthly participation by about 2.4 million people. In South Carolina, one single mother saw her household benefits cut by a third—around $250—before she was removed from the program entirely for failing to meet the new work requirements.