The Food Stamp Rolls Decline—Hurray

GOP reforms are paying off as more recipients work or volunteer

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"the food-stamp program is now returning to the levels of the bad old days of . . . 2019. Some 42.8 million Americans were enrolled in the program in January 2025, which is more than 12% of the U.S. population. The figure in January 2026 was 38.5 million. The social safety net scholar Angela Rachidi notes the program was “due for a decline” after elevated enrollment during the pandemic."

"those who receive help should hold up their end of the social contract—and work, train or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. That’s the work requirement in the program for able-bodied adults without children."

"those who leave the program because of the expanded work requirement do so for one of two reasons. One: Their earnings increase. That’s good news. Two: They refuse either to work, look for a job, or volunteer at a place like the local library part-time."

"The Agriculture Department ferreted data from 28 states and says it found nearly 186,000 dead recipients. Some 355,000 recipients were enrolled in more than one state."