President Trump declared during his State of the Union address that 2.4 million Americans were removed from food stamps, touting it as a record achievement, Fortune reports.
During the address, he pointed to record stock market highs, investment commitments from around the world, creation of tens of thousands of construction jobs and increased domestic oil production.
"We cut a record number of job-killing regulations, and in one year we have lifted 2.4 million Americans, a record, off of food stamps," Trump added. "And for all of these reasons I say tonight, members of Congress, the state of our union is strong."
Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashed $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, over ten years.
That amounts to a 20 percent reduction, marking the largest cut in the program's history, according to Harvard Kennedy School.
The tax and spending law also tightened work requirements on SNAP recipients, subjecting adults between ages 55 and 64 as well as adults with children over age 14 to the rules for the first time. They must work at least 20 hours weekly, otherwise they will only receive SNAP for a maximum of three months over three years.
Previously, only able bodied adults without dependents ages 18 to 54 had to meet those requirements. Meanwhile, the stricter rules also entail more paperwork, such as submitting monthly documentation to agencies, the Kennedy School pointed out.
At the same time, the OBBBA extended tax cuts from his first term and added new reductions for the wealthy and corporations as well as for seniors, tip earners and workers with overtime hours.
As Americans continue grappling with an affordability crisis, including higher costs for food, Trump's boast about fewer SNAP recipients didn't resonate well with critics.
"President Trump's big, ugly bill did NOTHING to help working people or make life more affordable," the AFL-CIO posted on X. "It cut Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, and our essential services to give tax breaks to billionaires and giant corporations. Tax cuts for the wealthy never lowered anyone's rent."
Reducing toxic welfare programs that trap Americans in dependency represents a positive step, but these reforms must be followed up with comprehensive immigration restriction to fully protect American workers from wage suppression and job displacement. Additionally, the nation requires a robust industrial policy to revitalize the manufacturing sector and create millions of well paying jobs that allow citizens to support their families without government assistance. Ensuring economic independence replaces welfare dependence while immigration moratoriums prevent continued flooding of labor markets with foreign workers willing to accept lower wages and worse conditions than American citizens deserve.
