One Year Later: Policy Decisions Drive Dramatic Decline in SNAP Participation

The budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1) slashed SNAP, our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, by $187 billion and introduced harmful provisions. One year later, nearly 5 million people, including households with children, people with disabilities, older adults, and veterans, have lost access to the nutrition they need at a time when gas and grocery costs are skyrocketing. 

FRAC is tracking the impact nationwide: 

Explore the full data

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Tell Your Senators: Support Families and Farmers, Restore Critical SNAP Funding

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Tell Congress to Stop the Reorganization of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service

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Banner image showing children eating outside at a table in a school setting that reads: "Donate to FRAC"
Polaroid-style image that reads: "This money is supposed to supplement my food budget, but it is really all of my food budget because my income barely covers my rent. Because of SNAP, we are not starving."

FRAC Chat

Jul 21, 2026
LaMonika Jones, State Initiatives Director, FRAC

For thousands of children across the District, the end of the school year means more than a break from the classroom. Summer break means losing access to healthy breakfasts and lunches they rely on during the school day. During the summer months, families often face higher grocery bills while children lose a dependable source of nutritious meals.

Jul 10, 2026
Kelsey Boone, Senior Child Nutrition Policy Analyst

The third summer of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program is currently underway. Thirty-eight states, the District of Columbia, five Indian Tribal Organizations, and five U.S. territories are at work sending millions of families across the country grocery benefits that can help ensure their children remain fed throughout the summer months. Despite being a newer program, best practices around multiple aspects of implementation have already begun to emerge, and increasing redemption rates is an important part of ensuring the program’s success.

Jul 08, 2026
Josie Takoda Gardner, Zero Hunger Intern, FRAC

Summer should be a time for children to explore new interests, stay active, and continue learning in safe and supportive environments. National Summer Learning Week, observed July 6–10, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of summer programs and the role they play in supporting children, families, and communities. It is also a time to recognize that for many families, summer brings challenges: ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious meals when school is out.

Recent Publications & Data

See More Resources
  • Fact Sheet

    Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility streamlines SNAP by cutting red tape for both families and states, making it easier to access and easier to administrate. Learn why eliminating BBCE would be bad for families, retailers, and state SNAP agencies. 

    Read the fact sheet
  • Best Practice

    Discover federal, state, and community-based strategies for increasing redemption rates in Summer EBT. 

    Read the brief
  • Report

    In Oklahoma, where the state has opted out of Summer EBT, Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) are stepping up—delivering benefits not only to their own citizens, but to entire communities. This FRAC and Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative brief explores what’s standing in the way of broader Tribal participation, the unique advantages of Tribal administration, and the support ITOs need to expand access.
    Read the brief to see how Tribal leadership can strengthen Summer EBT.

    Read the brief
  • Report

    State efforts to restrict what people can buy using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are spreading across the country. FRAC’s new comprehensive analysis of SNAP food restriction waivers helps advocates and policymakers understand how we got here, what’s happening on the ground, and the implications for families, retailers, and communities. 

    Read the report