Food subsidy recipients reduced by 5 million, tax cuts tighten, making life harder - US

[Washington Current Affairs] The number of recipients of food stamps, a food purchase subsidy system for low-income people in the United States, is decreasing significantly. The Trump administration has cut budgets related to low-income people, such as food stamps, in order to secure funding for large-scale tax cuts. Since July 2025, when the government enacted a large-scale tax reduction law, the number of recipients has decreased by more than 5 million people. The long-term issue of high prices will be at issue in the mid-term elections to be counted on the 3rd of next month, but the hardships of living for low-income people who are facing the burden of large-scale tax cuts will only intensify.

Measures to combat high U.S. prices go astray; ruling party rebels ahead of midterm elections

The law tightens eligibility requirements, such as raising the upper age limit for workers to work at least 80 hours a month from 54 to 64. It also introduced rules that would reduce the federal government's budget and increase the financial burden on state governments. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) think tank criticizes the move, saying it is "increasing poverty and food insecurity."

Every day, many citizens come to pick up food at free distribution stations located in residential areas of the capital, Washington. The number of visitors has increased by 30% since last summer, and officials speculate that ``food stamp budgets and cuts in federal government employees are having an impact.'' A woman who lost her job four years ago said, ``It's very helpful because I can get fresh vegetables and fish.''

In the United States, widening inequality is becoming a serious problem. Consumption is driven by high-income earners who benefit from high stock prices, while low-income earners are struggling to make ends meet, having been hit by high energy prices due to high tariff policies and the U.S.-Iranian conflict.

Aiming to allay public dissatisfaction, Trump announced that if Republicans control both houses of Congress, he would provide $5,000 (approximately 790,000 yen) to every adult citizen. He is desperately trying to retain support, but according to a poll released by Reuters on the 19th, his approval rating hit a record low of 31%.