For the 41.7 million people in our country who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase food, 2025 will be a year full of uncertainties. Although our welfare has been restored after the government shutdown, budget cuts and new demands mean that the New Year will still face many challenges.
As of December, millions of Americans are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits once again. That’s because President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed over the summer, reduced SNAP funding by $186 billion, the largest cut in the program’s history. In addition to this sweeping slash to funding, there are now tighter work requirements for determining who is eligible for SNAP benefits and for how long. Those who do not meet new work requirements will lose their benefits when their SNAP eligibility is next recertified, which happens every six to 12 months.
