One Big Beautiful Bill cuts SNAP by $186 billion, the largest reduction in history
The largest food assistance cut in 60 years shifts costs to states and removes exemptions for veterans and foster youth
🚜Agriculture🏛️Government
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, cuts SNAP spending by $186.7 billion over 10 years — a 20% reduction and the largest single cut in the program's 60-year history. The CBO projected 37% of those savings come from the new work requirements alone.
For the first time in SNAP's history, states will be required to pay a portion of benefit costs — not just administrative costs — starting in fiscal year 2028. The amount each state owes depends on its payment error rate: states with error rates of 6% to less than 10% pay 5% of benefit costs; states at 10% or higher pay 15%. Only eight states — Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming — had error rates below 6% in 2024.
States' share of SNAP administrative costs rises from 50% to 75% starting in fiscal year 2027. A Commonwealth Fund analysis found that approximately $128 billion in federal costs will shift to states over 10 years, many of which do not have the funds to meet the required cost-share.
Work requirements now apply to adults up to age 64, up from age 54 under prior law. Adults 55-64 must work, participate in job training, or perform community service for at least 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period.
The law eliminates work requirement exemptions that previously protected homeless individuals, veterans, and adults aged 18-24 who had aged out of foster care. The Urban Institute estimated nearly 3 million young adults were made vulnerable to losing SNAP benefits by this provision alone.
The law bars USDA from conducting reevaluations of the 'Thrifty Food Plan' — the basket of foods used to calculate SNAP benefit levels — to increase benefits beyond the annual cost-of-living (CPI) adjustment. In 2021, a Biden-era Thrifty Food Plan update raised benefits by about 21%. The new law prevents similar updates.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, confirmed by the Senate in 2025, has defended the changes as promoting 'self-sufficiency' and reducing 'dependency.' Critics including the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Urban Institute argue the cuts will reduce food access for millions of low-income Americans, rural families, elderly people, and people with disabilities.
SNAP currently serves nearly 42 million Americans in roughly 18 million households. Studies consistently show that SNAP benefits reduce hunger, improve infant health outcomes, increase economic mobility for children, and generate roughly $1.50-1.80 in economic activity per dollar spent — making cuts economically as well as nutritionally consequential.
🚜Agriculture🏛️Government
People, bills, and sources
Brooke Rollins
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (confirmed 2025)
Mike Johnson
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (R-LA)
Sharon Parrott
President, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Stacy Dean
Former USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (2021-2025)
Lynn Budd
President, National Emergency Management Association
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact your state legislators about how the state will respond to new SNAP cost obligations
Starting in fiscal year 2027, states must cover 75% of SNAP administrative costs and, starting in FY2028, some portion of benefit costs based on their error rate. Your state legislature will need to decide whether to absorb these costs, cut other programs, or tighten SNAP eligibility in ways that go beyond federal requirements.
I'm calling about the new SNAP cost-sharing requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Starting in 2027, our state will owe significantly more in administrative costs, and starting in 2028, we may owe benefit costs based on our error rate. How does our state plan to fund these requirements, and will the state maintain current eligibility levels?
2
direct assistance
Apply for SNAP if your household may be eligible despite the new rules
Even with the new work requirements and eligibility changes, millions of Americans remain eligible for SNAP. The new rules primarily affect able-bodied adults 18-64 without dependents under 14. Families with children, elderly adults, and people with disabilities generally remain exempt from work requirements.
I'd like to know if I or my family members are still eligible for SNAP benefits under the new rules. Can you walk me through the current eligibility requirements including any work requirements that apply to my situation?
3
community action
Advocate for your local food bank and hunger relief organizations
As SNAP benefits are cut, food banks and hunger relief organizations expect dramatically increased demand. You can volunteer, donate, or advocate for local emergency food assistance programs that will fill gaps left by the federal benefit reductions.
I'm calling because I want to understand how the SNAP cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will affect our local food bank's demand and how I can help. What resources does the community need most right now?