CBPP Comprehensive Reports and Blog Posts

SNAP Tracker: People Are Losing Food Assistance as the Harmful 2025 Republican Reconciliation Law Is Implemented

Dottie Rosenbaum, Joseph Llobrera, Catlin Nchako, Luis Nuñez — 2026-10-23T23:50:00

SNAP participation nationwide fell by 5.5 million people (13 percent) between the law’s July 2025 enactment and July 2026, based on the latest month of data.

Federal Policymakers Should Raise Revenue to Address Fiscal and Investment Deficits to Responsibly Steward the Nation’s Economy

Brendan Duke, Richard Kogan, Sonali Master — 2026-10-23T17:02:33

Our nation faces twin deficits that threaten the short- and long-term economic well-being of the nation and its people: a federal budget deficit and a federal investment deficit.

In Case You Missed It...

CBPP — 2026-10-23T15:02:45

This week at CBPP, we focused on the federal budget, housing, state budgets and taxes, the economy, and food assistance. On the federal budget, Brendan Duke, Richard Kogan, and Sonali Master explained why federal policymakers should raise revenue to address deficits in both the federal budget and federal investment that threaten the economic well-being of our nation. On housing, Anna Bailey highlighted the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s efforts to reshape the Continuum of Care program that will take away funding from proven solutions to homelessness and reallocate resources for

The Economy: Is It Bad? Well, It’s Not Good

Gbenga Ajilore — 2026-10-22T16:25:54

Public sentiment about the economy reached historic lows in the first half of 2026, falling to levels typically seen during recessions. This was true whether consumers, businesses, or farmers were surveyed. While the economy may not be as bad as these surveys suggest, several key economic indicators did weaken in 2026, a trend that started in 2025.

Congress Must Delay SNAP Cost Shift to Stanch SNAP Participation Losses, Which Far Exceed CBO’s Estimates

Dottie Rosenbaum, Joseph Llobrera — 2026-10-22T12:10:50

The outsized drops suggest that people not ostensibly targeted by the 2025 reconciliation law’s eligibility restrictions are losing SNAP anyway. That includes many children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Five Ways HUD’s Continuum of Care Funding Notices Would Undermine Effective Homelessness Solutions If Lawmakers Don’t Act

Anna Bailey — 2026-10-19T12:58:27

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has repeatedly sought to cut funding for those solutions and take housing assistance away from 100,000 or more formerly homeless people.

Ballot Measures Restricting State Revenues and Citizen Initiatives Would Impede Needed Investments and Supports

Clara Wilson — 2026-10-19T10:25:14

Voters across the country will decide state ballot measures in the November elections that would reduce state lawmakers’ ability to raise revenue, restrict local governments’ agency to set their own tax policies, and limit voters’ ability to enact policies directly through citizen initiatives. Though they take different forms, these measures all weaken democratic processes in states by narrowing the options available to address public priorities and invest in the services and supports families rely on. These restrictions could become especially consequential as states face growing fiscal

In Case You Missed It...

CBPP — 2026-10-16T15:30:00

This week at CBPP, we focused on health, food assistance, and state budgets and taxes. On food assistance, Joseph Llobrera and Catlin Nchako pointed out that number of people receiving SNAP food assistance is at its lowest point in 17 years, despite the lack of economic improvement and high food prices. On health, Claire Heyison explained that the White House’s plan to send one-time cash payments to a small subset of Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees falls short of addressing the massive coverage losses and increased premiums due to Republican health policies. On state budgets and

SNAP Participation Has Dropped to Its Lowest Point in 17 Years, Even Though Economic Conditions Haven’t Improved

Joseph Llobrera, Catlin Nchako — 2026-10-14T14:33:31

The number of people receiving SNAP food assistance has declined sharply in recent months, even though there is no sign that the decline is due primarily to an improving economy.

Executive Action Watch

2026-10-14T13:30:00

The Trump Administration has unleashed a flurry of measures to radically reshape the federal government. Many of these moves are overtly unlawful, and others will reduce and weaken key services to people across the U.S.