Eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries have dropped by about half in Arizona, following federal changes that threaten penalties for states’ bureaucratic errors. Elaine Waxman, a safety net expert at the Urban Institute, spoke with the The New York Times about how Arizona’s experience suggests other states may prioritize reducing errors over maintaining access: “The magnitude in Arizona may be greater, but a similar pattern is already unfolding in other states,” she said. “It’s likely to accelerate as the penalties draw nearer.” 

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