Decline in participation

New USDA data confirms that Oklahoma, along with 35 other states, could soon face massive new SNAP costs, putting food assistance at risk for families already struggling to afford groceries. Congress must act now to delay this cost shift for all states.

New federal data show that Oklahoma’s SNAP enrollment has dropped significantly over the past year, with roughly 100,000 fewer Oklahomans participating in the program each month than a year ago. There are some national and local voices saying this is something to be celebrated and it’s a sign we are doing things right. To avoid any confusion, I want to be as clear as possible, those people are wrong. At Hunger Free Oklahoma, we want everyone who needs SNAP to have access to it. We also want to see fewer people need SNAP because they are earning enough to afford food and meet their basic needs without assistance. The current decline in participation does not reflect that reality.