
When President Donald Trump signed the "Big, Beautiful Bill" into law in the summer of 2025, the legislation triggered sweeping cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, imposing new eligibility requirements that left millions of Americans with reduced federal food assistance.
Supporters of the measure argued the cuts would encourage more people to leave public assistance and enter the workforce. But an NBC News investigation found the changes have also left thousands of Americans struggling to afford food as reduced benefits fail to cover basic needs.