SNAP beneficiaries decreased by nearly 4.3 million from January 2025 to January 2026, according to preliminary government data released by the Agriculture Department.
Just as SNAP benefits were reinstated for millions of Americans following the reopening of the federal government, many are now set to permanently lose them.
Here's what's in the government reopening package, based on summaries provided by Congress
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an order blocking full SNAP payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end.
The Department of Agriculture threatened to impose financial penalties on states that do not "comply" quickly with their new orders.
As the federal government shutdown stretches on, families who rely on SNAP benefits are preparing for the possibility that they could cease as early as Nov. 1.