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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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The number of households receiving food assistance varies widely across the United States, according to newly released Census Bureau data.
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has fallen sharply following federal policy changes.
The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2025 American Community Survey (ACS) one-year estimates last week. They show the demographic, social, economic, and housing estimates for the country, every state, and other geographic areas with populations of at least 65,000.
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The Census Bureau’s Food Stamps/SNAP survey shows that, nationwide, the United States had just over 134 million households in 2025. The survey then breaks those households down by their receipt of benefits, household type, the presence of children, and whether anyone aged 60 or older lived in the home.
The new figures provide a state-by-state picture of reliance on the nation’s largest food-assistance program during 2025, a year in which SNAP underwent significant changes.
SNAP Participation Falls Following New Restrictions
Separate monthly administrative data examined by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) shows that nationwide SNAP participation fell by 5.5 million people, or 13 percent, between July 2025 and July 2026.
Participation dropped from approximately 41.6 million people to 36.1 million, its lowest level in 17 years, according to the organization’s analysis.
CBPP reported that participation declined in every state except Alaska during that period. It fell by close to 5 percent or more in 48 states, nearly 10 percent or more in 26 states, and around 20 percent or more in eight states.
The decline followed the July 4, 2025 enactment of the Republican reconciliation law commonly called the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB).
CBPP said that the regulation made it harder for some people to qualify for or continue receiving SNAP in three main ways:
- Work requirements: more SNAP recipients are now subject to rules requiring them to work, participate in qualifying activities, or meet an exemption to continue receiving benefits. The changes extended these requirements to older adults and some parents and caregivers who previously were exempt.
- Fewer state waivers: states previously had greater flexibility to suspend certain SNAP work requirements in areas where jobs were difficult to find. The law limited when states can use those waivers, meaning more recipients in those areas can now be subject to the requirements.
- Immigration eligibility: the law also removed SNAP eligibility from some legally present immigrants who previously could qualify for assistance.
It also shifted part of the program’s future benefit and administrative costs to states.
CBPP cautioned that participation had begun declining before the legislation was enacted, indicating that other factors may also have contributed. However, it said the fall accelerated in almost every state after the enactment. It could become more pronounced as the law’s provisions are fully implemented.
Children have accounted for a substantial share of the decline. Data gathered from 28 states showed that 1.5 million fewer children were receiving SNAP than in July 2025.
CBPP estimated that the nationwide reduction was likely to be about 2 million children, although complete child-participation figures were not available for every state.
Government Shutdown Disrupted Benefits
SNAP recipients also faced an "unprecedented disruption" during the federal government shutdown in 2025.
CBPP said that the Trump administration declined to deliver benefits during the shutdown, creating uncertainty for households that depended on the program to buy food.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Census Bureau and the CBPP for comment and is awaiting responses.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and James Debens
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