One of the most far-reaching cuts to federal programs in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is a provision that will largely shift the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to the states. Until now, the federal government has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half of the administrative costs. The reconciliation bill is expected to cut $186 billion in federal spending for SNAP over the next 10 years, leaving states scrambling to determine how to feed the estimated 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates over 3 million Americans will likely be dropped from the program and lose their benefits.

Over the next few years, states will have to decide how much of the SNAP costs to absorb, which totaled over $100 billion in 2024. The CBOe predicts that some states will scale back or drop SNAP benefits altogether. Food banks throughout the country are already raising the alarm that they won’t be able to meet the food demands created by cuts to the program.

In addition to shifting the cost to states, the legislation will change the enrollment requirements for SNAP, such as raising the working age to 64, and requiring able-bodied parents with children over 14 to work in order to receive benefits.

Some critics of the bill argue the provision prevents SNAP from serving its purpose of feeding low-income Americans.

On the Today, Explained podcast, co-host Sean Rameswaram dove into the history of SNAP, the program’s controversies since its inception, and how the legislative bill will prevent the program from being able to deliver on its original goals with Tracy Roof, an associate professor of political science the University of Richmond who focuses on domestic policy who is writing a book about the history of food assistance in the United States.

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