The short answer: food stamps continued, but rules changed

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly called food stamps) was not shut down under the Trump administration. The program remained active and people continued to receive benefits. However, the administration did change several rules about who could receive SNAP and how much they could get, which reduced the number of people on the program and the total amount of money spent.

The most significant change was a rule called the "public charge" rule, which made it harder for immigrants to get permanent residency if they had used certain benefits, including SNAP. This discouraged some people from applying even though they were legally able to receive benefits. The administration also tightened work requirements and changed how states could grant exemptions to those requirements.

Key Takeaways

  • SNAP continued operating throughout the Trump administration; no one lost benefits simply because the program was shut down.
  • Work requirements were made stricter, and states had less ability to exempt people from those requirements, which removed some people from the rolls.
  • The public charge rule discouraged immigrants from applying for SNAP out of fear it would hurt their immigration status, even though SNAP itself was not listed as a disqualifying benefit.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration did increase emergency SNAP benefits temporarily, though it later tried to reduce them.

Work requirement changes and who they affected

In 2019, the Trump administration issued a rule that made work requirements stricter for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Under SNAP rules, these adults can only receive benefits for three months in a 36-month period unless they work at least 20 hours per week or participate in a work program.

The change limited states' ability to grant waivers from this rule. Previously, states could waive the requirement in areas with high unemployment or low job availability. The new rule made waivers much harder to get. This meant more people in rural areas and places with weak job markets lost their SNAP benefits, even though they had not changed their own circumstances.

The rule took effect in 2020 but was paused during the COVID-19 emergency. After the emergency declarations ended, the rule went back into effect in some states, though some states challenged it in court.

The public charge rule and immigrant concerns

The public charge rule, finalized in 2019, changed how immigration officials decide whether someone can become a permanent resident. The rule said that using certain government benefits could count against an immigrant's application, making them appear to be a "public charge" — someone likely to need government support.

SNAP was not officially listed as a disqualifying benefit under the rule. However, the rule created confusion and fear. Many immigrants and immigrant families stopped applying for SNAP because they worried it would hurt their chances of getting permanent residency or sponsoring family members. This fear was often stronger than the actual legal risk, but it still kept people off the program.

The Biden administration reversed the public charge rule in 2021, which removed this barrier for immigrants. However, the damage to trust took time to repair, and some immigrant families remained hesitant to apply.

SNAP during the COVID-19 pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the Trump administration initially used emergency powers to increase SNAP benefits. The administration issued emergency allotments that gave people the maximum benefit amount for their household size, which meant most recipients got more money than they had been receiving.

In late 2020 and early 2021, the administration tried to reduce these emergency increases, but Congress blocked the reductions. The emergency allotments continued and were later extended by the Biden administration. These temporary increases were separate from the rule changes described above and represented an expansion of benefits during the crisis.

How many people were removed from SNAP

The exact number of people removed from SNAP due to rule changes is difficult to pin down because multiple factors affect enrollment. However, data shows that SNAP enrollment declined from about 42 million people in 2013 to about 38 million by 2019, before the pandemic. Some of this decline was due to economic improvement, but some was due to policy changes and stricter enforcement.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, enrollment jumped back up to over 42 million people as unemployment spiked and emergency allotments were issued. The work requirement rule changes affected primarily able-bodied adults without dependents, a smaller group than the overall SNAP population, so the impact was concentrated rather than affecting all recipients equally.

What changed and what stayed the same

SNAP itself — the program structure, the benefit card system, the way states administer it — remained unchanged. People who were on SNAP before 2017 and remained may be able to access under the new rules continued to receive their benefits without interruption. The changes affected who could get on the program and how much they could receive, not the mechanics of how the program worked.

The income limits for SNAP did not change under Trump. The maximum benefit amounts did not change (except for the temporary COVID increases). The list of foods you can buy with SNAP did not change. What changed was the rules about work requirements and the climate around immigrant participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did I lose my food stamps because of Trump's policies?

If you lost SNAP benefits between 2017 and 2021, it was most likely due to the stricter work requirement rule if you are an able-bodied adult without dependents. If you are an immigrant, you may have chosen not to apply due to public charge concerns. If you believe you were removed in error, you can contact your state SNAP office to ask why your case was closed and whether you can reapply.

Can immigrants still get food stamps?

Yes. Immigrants with certain legal statuses (including lawful permanent residents and refugees) have always been able to get SNAP. The public charge rule created fear but did not officially ban SNAP for immigrants. The rule was reversed in 2021. If you are an immigrant and were hesitant to apply, you can contact your state SNAP office or a local community organization to learn about your options.

Are work requirements still in place for food stamps?

Yes, work requirements still exist for able-bodied adults without dependents, though the rules have changed multiple times. Currently, these adults can receive SNAP for only three months in a 36-month period unless they work 20 hours per week or participate in a work program. States can request waivers in areas with high unemployment, but the process is stricter than it was before 2019. Check with your state SNAP office about whether a waiver applies in your area.

Did food stamp benefits increase or decrease under Trump?

Regular SNAP benefit amounts did not change. However, during COVID-19, emergency allotments temporarily increased benefits to the maximum for each household size. The administration tried to reduce these increases in late 2020, but Congress blocked the reductions. These emergency increases were temporary measures, not permanent changes to the program.