SNAP usage is at its lowest level since 2009.
Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Checked
- Sources
- 3 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 80%
The Dan Bongino ShowOct 16, 2026
As of 2026-10-16, national SNAP participation was at its lowest level since 2009: CBPP reported June 2026 was the lowest since August 2009, and later USDA-based coverage put July 2026 at the lowest since July 2009.
Our two reads of who says this, and how, disagree, so it counts as the post's own claim.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… I think food stamp spending is out of control. Good, we got one for you there too, otherwise known as SNAP benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. That's what the government calls food stamps. Chris Hines, SNAP usage is at its lowest level since 2009, 2009, has fallen by nearly 7 million since Donald Trump took office. Wow. People who are interested in a bloated federal workforce, President Trump's the first president modern US. History to dramatically cut the federal workforce. Well, what about the DOGE? …
The Dan Bongino Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. CBPP (published 2026-10-14) reported that national SNAP participation in June 2026 dropped to its lowest point since August 2009.[2]
Supports. Coverage of USDA data says SNAP beneficiaries fell to about 36 million in July 2026, the lowest monthly figure since July 2009, with preliminary June and July data subject to revision.[3]
Supports. AP reports SNAP enrollment fell from 42.2 million in May 2025 to 36.6 million in May 2026, a drop of more than 13%, far steeper than government estimates.[1]
Context. Texas Tribune (published 2026-10-23) describes national SNAP enrollment as at a 17-year low, consistent with the claim.[4]
Context. The sources differ slightly on the exact comparison month (August 2009 in CBPP, July 2009 in USDA-based coverage), but all place current levels at the lowest since 2009.[2][3]
Sources
4 sources: 1 fact-checker, 3 not rated
- 1SNAP food aid enrollment plummets as changes kick inapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2SNAP Participation Has Dropped to Its Lowest Point in 17 Years, Even Though Economic Conditions Haven’t Improvedcbpp.org · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 3SNAP Beneficiaries Dropmundonow.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 4Texas SNAP participation drops to a 17-year low amid fed changestexastribune.org · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post