A HISTORIC policy adjustment takes effect this month, and millions of Americans will be impacted.
The payment change comes amid another that could leave some banned from buying certain merchandise.
It was officially implemented on Monday as part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).
As a result, those low-income families who obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase groceries will see less in their monthly distributions.
Some experts dubbed it the “largest cut to SNAP in history,” according to CNBC.
Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office note about 30% of the funds set aside for beneficiaries to be slashed by 2034, but it would also reduce the federal deficit by $309 billion.
The CBO analysis also determined that about 2.4 million fewer Americans would be eligible for SNAP month to month.
Data from the Urban Institute also showed anywhere between $72 to $231 cut monthly for those who are eligible and an overall total of $186 billion reduced from SNAP altogether.
But, why exactly is this happening?
Several provisions in the OBBA pertaining to SNAP contribute to the cuts, including updates to cost-sharing practices with states, per the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Under the OBBA, states are now required to provide a portion (as much as 25%) of SNAP food benefits and administration costs as opposed to it being 100% federally funded.
This has strained some state budgets, and they’ll have to decide how to redistribute if they can, which could take away from other necessary public services.
Additionally, work requirements to qualify for SNAP have changed.
This specifically affects parents with children over seven-years-old, adults between the ages of 55 to 63, former foster youth, and even veterans.
Estimates from the CBO predict that about 3.2 million adults would not be eligible during a typical month under the updated work requirements, including one million between the ages of 55 and 64 and 800,000 parents of children over seven.
Lastly, OBBA eliminates some exemptions that had previously been in place for those who have lawful immigration status, are unhoused, veterans, and those young adults that aged out of foster care.
What are SNAP benefits?
Over 41 million people in America receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits each month.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income households to help people get groceries.
Recipients get money on a debit card that can be used at grocery stores and farmers markets.
The amount of money distributed depends on several factors including how much money you make, how much money you receive from other benefits, and how many people are in your household.
The electronic benefits can help people buy food including food and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, and snacks.
You can’t use SNAP to buy alcohol, cigarettes, hot foods, or cooking utensils.
Source: USDA
BAN IT
While the cuts are alone a major change for SNAP, at least 12 states are also now on board to ban recipients from purchasing certain products in-store.
Earlier this summer, six new states joined the list, and it means residents in those states with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards from SNAP will not be allowed to by select sugary and processed food and drinks.
Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah were the first to do it and have now been joined by Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.
While exact restrictions differ from state to state and don’t fully go into effect until 2026, all 12 at least have restrictions on soda and sweetened drinks.
Others, like Florida and Louisiana, have expanded bans on SNAP users from purchasing energy drinks and candy, per Straight Arrow News.
HEALTH FOCUS
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said that SNAP is meant for nutritious and health-conscious purchases only.
“SNAP is a supplemental nutrition program meant to provide health food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being,” Rollins explained in a statement.
“That is the stated purpose of the SNAP program, the law states it and President Trump’s USDA plans to deliver on it.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also applauded the bans as part of the Make America Healthy Again Campaign.
“US taxpayers should not be paying to feed kids foods, the poorest kids in our country, with foods that are going to give them diabetes,” Kennedy wrote in an X post.
“And then my agency ends up, through Medicaid and Medicare, paying for those injuries.”
“We’re going to put an end to that, and we’re doing it step by step, state by state,” he added.
It’s possible the bans could be nationwide in the future, according to comments from US Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary.
Makary said in a news release that he “hopes to see all 50 states join this bold commonsense approach.”
CUSTOMER CONTROVERSY
American consumers have issued mixed feels about the bans on social media, with some for it and others vehemently against it.
“Good it’s there for nourishing foods and drinks, you can’t live on candy bars and pop,” a shopper argued in a Facebook thread.
“It’s about time they did this,” another agreed.
“Is this freedom? North Korea also limits what you’re allowed to eat,” a third countered.
“Yeah well kids deserve treats…ridiculous,” someone else fumed.
Twelve states also recently implemented a new July 1 law that bans a common product at restaurants and stores, with violators facing a potential $50 daily fine.
Four other states have expanded laws banning a common grocery store essential this year as well.
