The Impact of H.R.1 SNAP Cuts on Children: Research Brief

Nearly 16 million children participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2023, but many are at risk of losing benefits as a result of the nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP in the budget reconciliation bill H.R.1 passed in July 2025. Some children will face a complete loss of benefits themselves, for a member of their household, and/or the entire household. Additionally, changes in certain deductions and future benefit calculations may reduce the amount a household with children receives, lowering the food resources available to that household.  

This report is based on a January 2026 analysis utilizing public U.S. Department of Agriculture 2022 and 2023 SNAP Quality Control data to highlight potential impacts of H.R.1 provisions on children. It discusses the potential impact of changes to lawfully present noncitizen eligibility and expansion of time limits to parents with teenagers as well as administrative and benefit cost shift to states. It also includes tables with state-by-state numbers estimated to be impacted by limits on lawfully present noncitizen eligibility and time limit expansion.