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How did SNAP outlays change between fiscal years 2022 and 2024?
Executive Summary
Federal SNAP outlays fell noticeably between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, with multiple data points showing a drop roughly in the range of $20 billion (about 18 percent) from 2022 to 2024 depending on which official series is used. Analysts attribute the decline primarily to the end of pandemic-era emergency allotments and reductions in average monthly benefits and participation; however, different reports record 2024 outlays between $93.7 billion and $99.8 billion, and vary on the 2022 baseline, producing modestly different percentage declines [1] [2] [3]. These differences reflect variation in whether totals count only benefits versus all federal costs and whether figures are inflation-adjusted, so readers should note the methodological choices behind each cited number.
1. The headline numbers: a clear drop but varying magnitudes
Multiple analyses agree there was a substantive decline in SNAP spending after the pandemic peak, but they disagree on the exact magnitude because of differing accounting choices. One USDA-linked compilation reports total SNAP benefits at about $113.97 billion in FY2022 and roughly $93.67 billion in FY2024, a fall of around $20.3 billion (17.8 percent) [1]. Another Economic Research Service summary and related overviews place FY2024 outlays near $99.8 billion and describe a 12 percent drop from FY2023 to FY2024, with FY2023 elevated by pandemic-related emergency allotments [2] [4]. A separate contemporaneous piece cited a FY2023 outlay of roughly $115 billion, reinforcing that 2023 was near the peak year before 2024 declines [5]. The spread in 2024 estimates—$93.7 billion to $99.8 billion—derives from whether a source reports benefits only or total federal costs and whether the numbers are adjusted for inflation [1] [2].
2. Why spending fell: policy mechanics, participation, and benefit levels
Reports consistently point to the expiration of emergency allotments that were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary driver of lower FY2024 SNAP outlays, combined with a modest decline in participation and reduced average monthly benefits per person. The USDA Economic Research Service documents a 1 percent decline in average monthly participation to 41.7 million and an 11 percent drop in average monthly benefit per person, contributing to an overall 12–14 percent decline in nominal and inflation-adjusted spending depending on the series [2]. Analysts also note that pandemic-era boosts to benefits and household need elevated FY2022–FY2023 spending; as those temporary measures lapsed, spending reverted toward pre-pandemic levels, producing a substantial year-over-year reduction [3] [2].
3. Methodology matters: benefits-only versus total federal costs and inflation adjustments
Differences among the cited figures stem from clear methodological choices. Some sources report benefits only (the direct SNAP payments), while others report total federal costs that include administrative or ancillary pandemic-era items; still others present inflation-adjusted figures showing larger real declines. For example, the $93.67 billion figure corresponds to benefits in FY2024 in one USDA table, whereas $99.8 billion is cited in an ERS summary that highlights a 12 percent year-over-year drop and frames the decline in both nominal and inflation-adjusted terms [1] [2]. The variation underscores that readers seeking a single “drop” number should specify whether they mean nominal benefits, total federal outlays, or inflation-adjusted spending.
4. Cross-checking sources and potential agendas to watch
The underlying data come mainly from USDA analyses and program summaries that aim to track participation and costs; independent commentators and policy outlets echo those trends but sometimes emphasize different policy implications. One source with a non-governmental vantage referenced program fragility and broader federal fiscal context when discussing SNAP cost trends, which can reflect ideological framing about program management [6]. The USDA ERS and National Level Annual Summaries are primary statistical references and show consistent directional declines, while interpretive pieces vary in tone and emphasis. Readers should therefore prioritize the USDA data tables for precise numeric comparisons and use interpretive accounts to understand policy implications [7] [2].
5. Bottom line and what to watch next
The bottom line: SNAP outlays declined materially between FY2022 and FY2024, by roughly $20 billion (≈18%) using benefits-only series or by a somewhat smaller percentage using broader outlay measures, with FY2024 reporting between roughly $93.7 billion and $99.8 billion depending on methodology [1] [2] [3]. The decline tracks the phase-out of emergency allotments, lower average benefits, and slightly reduced participation. Future changes will hinge on economic conditions, possible policy restorations of emergency allotments or benefit increases, and how agencies report total costs versus benefits; analysts should compare the same series (benefits-only vs total federal costs, nominal vs inflation-adjusted) to avoid misleading comparisons [3] [2] [7].