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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment in Tennessee has fallen by more than 100,000 people in less than a year, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

Advocates claim new federal eligibility rules are pushing people out of the food assistance program.

State data reviewed by News 2 shows SNAP enrollment dropped by 109,396 individuals between July 2025 and April of this year.

The Tennessee Justice Center argues the decline is not driven by reduced need, but by stricter eligibility standards passed in President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” including expanded work requirements, fewer exemptions, and more frequent eligibility checks.

“Expenses that families have to take care of are at an all-time high, and normally when we are in that situation, there are more families participating in SNAP, but that’s not what’s happening. Families are being pushed out because of these rules,” Signe Anderson, senior director of nutrition advocacy at the Tennessee Justice Center, said. “People are having to make hard choices in order to feed themselves.”

The TJC told News 2 some individuals are skipping meals to feed their children and are being forced to choose between buying groceries and paying their bills because they’re struggling to complete the required paperwork or don’t meet the 20-hour-per-week work or volunteer requirement. Advocates said an influx of families, grandparents, veterans and those who are unhoused are seeking help.

“If you don’t have a place to live, to shower, to get a phone call, it’s hard to work,” Anderson said. “To take food away from those individuals makes it really difficult for them to even get to a point where they can work.”

However, federal officials dispute the idea that eligible recipients are being removed from the program. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials testified in Washington, D.C., this week that the changes are intended to strengthen program integrity and ensure accountability.

“No one was kicked off. We have more people working today than ever before,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.

The Tennessee Justice Center contends the tighter requirements are creating barriers for some households, particularly those with unstable work or housing situations. The group argues that requiring work participation to receive benefits can create an endless cycle of struggle.

“Individuals need their basic needs met in order to be able to work,” Anderson said. “In a perfect world, you wouldn’t be holding food against people that either really are working or are struggling to find work.”

News 2 reached out to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) regarding the compiled data, and she responded with the following statement:

The One Big Beautiful Bill protects SNAP for those who truly need it by strengthening the integrity of the program, reducing waste, and enforcing commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults. We are focused on ensuring federal assistance reaches those who qualify while promoting opportunity, self-sufficiency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)

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The TJC wants to hear from individuals struggling to receive SNAP benefits in Tennessee. To get in touch, click here.