How did the Trump administration cut food stamps?

 

In 2025, the Trump administration enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which includes approximately $187 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. These cuts are primarily achieved through stricter work requirements, shifting costs to states, and changes to benefit calculations. 

Primary Methods of Cutting SNAP

The administration implemented several structural and regulatory changes to reduce program spending: 

• Expanded Work Requirements: The law raised the age for work-reporting requirements from 54 to 64 for adults without dependents. It also eliminated exemptions for several vulnerable groups, including veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth.
• Cost-Shifting to States: Starting in fiscal year 2027, the federal government will reduce its share of SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 25%. Additionally, beginning in 2028, states with high payment error rates will be required to pay for 5% to 15% of the actual food benefits, which were previously 100% federally funded.
• Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Freeze: The law permanently freezes the cost of the TFP—the basis for SNAP benefit levels—allowing it to increase only for inflation and blocking future re-evaluations that might account for the rising cost of a healthy diet.
• Elimination of Administrative Simplifications: The administration ended the "categorical eligibility" link between energy assistance (LIHEAP) and SNAP. This change requires more households to provide physical documentation of utility bills, which the CBO estimates will cut benefits by roughly $100 per month for about 600,000 households.
• Restricted Immigrant Eligibility: Eligibility for SNAP was further restricted for many lawfully present immigrants, including some refugees and survivors of domestic violence. 

Impact of the 2025 Government Shutdown

Separate from permanent legislation, the administration attempted to halt or reduce SNAP payments during a federal government shutdown in late 2025: 

• Partial Payments: The administration initially refused to authorize contingency funds, leading to a plan to issue only 65% of November benefits.
• Legal Challenges: Although several federal judges ordered the administration to restore full benefits using emergency funds, the Supreme Court issued a stay allowing the administration to temporarily withhold a portion of the funding during the appeal process.
• State Conflict: The USDA directed states that had already issued full benefits to "undo" those payments and warned them they could be held financially liable for "unauthorized" overissuances.