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Arizona leads nation in SNAP rolls decline after federal changes

By Luisa Santos Martinez

Joseph Palomino, Executive Director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, said the decline traces back to changes in federal rules under what’s being referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” along with a shortage of state workers needed to process cases.

“This really does go to the root of the changes that were made,” Palomino said.

He said the numbers are still falling month to month.

From February to March, “we did see another decline,” Palomino said.

DES, which administers SNAP in Arizona, said in a statement that it is “currently navigating one of the most significant structural changes to federal nutrition assistance in decades.”

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