According to a new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), more than 700,000 children across 12 states have lost SNAP benefits since July 2025. the cuts stem from cost-shift provisions in a Republican budget law signed by President Trump, which for the first time in SNAP's history places substantial fiscal burdens on states. The CBPP warns that these losses are just the beginning, with deeper cuts projected over the next decade.

The $186 Billion Congressional Math Behind the Cuts

The Republican budget law, passed in May 2025, is projected to cut $186 billion from SNAP over the next decdae, according to nonpartisan budget analysts cited in the CBPP analysis. the law’s central mechanism is a cost shift to states, leading them to adopt policies that make it harder for eligible low-income families to receive benefits. As the CBPP report notes, this shift is unprecedented in the program's history and has already triggered sharp enrollment declines among children.

Children Account for Nearly Half of the 1.6 Million Drop in SNAP Enrollment

The CBPP analysis found that children now account for nearly half of the 1.6-million-person decline in SNAP enrollment across all ages in the 12 states with available data. this disproportionate impact highlights how the cost-shift provisions target the most vulnerable. The report emphasizes that losing SNAP also makes it more difficult for low-income children to qualify for other food assistance programs, such as WIC and free school meals, compounding the negative effects on their health and education.

Why Arizona’s Single Mother Now Relies on Food Banks

The analysis includes a real-world example: a single mother in Arizona whose SNAP benefits were recently cut off. She told the CBPP that her family now reelies on food banks every week to get by. This case underscores the immediate human toll of the policy changes. As the CBPP reports, the consequences are already being felt on the ground, and without congressional inntervention, more families will face similar hardships.

The WIC and Free Meals Domino Effect on Low-Income Families

Beyond the direct loss of SNAP, the analysis warns that children who lose benefits also face barriers to enrolling in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and free school meal programs. Because SNAP participation often serves as a gateway to these programs, the ripple effect could widen food insecurity for millions. The CBPP calls on Congress to act swiftly to delay the cost shift for all states and prevent further harm to eligible families.

The Unanswered Question: Which States Will Be Next?

The CBPP analysis covers only 12 states with available data, leaving open how many more children could lose aid as other states implement similar cost-saving measures . The report notes that the SNAP cuts triggered by the law have not fully taken effect, meaning that the 700 ,000 figure may grow. It remains unclear whether Congress will take the CBPP’s advice to delay the cost shift, or if further losses will force a legislative response.