Millions Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump Cuts, Arizona Worst Hit

More than 4.7 million Americans, about 11% of participants, have lost SNAP benefits since Trump’s tax and spending law took effect last July, according to USDA data through March. Arizona has been hit hardest, with enrollment falling by roughly half, costing more than 457,000 residents their benefits, including nearly 196,000 children.

Single mother Angelica Garcia of Tucson missed two months of benefits while waiting on hold and visiting an understaffed office, relying on food pantries and cheap staples to feed her three kids in the meantime. The law cuts SNAP funding by $187 billion over 10 years, expands work requirements, and shifts more administrative costs and penalties onto states that miss performance targets.

Food Pantries See Record Demand

About 843,000 Arizonans sought food pantry help in April, an 8% jump from last year and more than the number receiving SNAP. Phoenix mother Myriam Flores lost $1,100 a month in benefits in January and now visits a pantry almost daily. “There are nights of crying, nights of not sleeping,” she said. Arizona’s Department of Economic Security has tightened documentation requirements to avoid fines tied to its error rate, slowing down approvals further.

Other States Feel The Squeeze Too

Louisiana, Wyoming and Virginia have also seen sharp SNAP enrollment drops of 17.4%, 11.6% and 13.7% respectively. Virginia officials say the law’s main effect is simply more families going hungry. Arizona is now hiring additional staff and a third-party call center to cut wait times.