Government Shutdown and Food Aid

The Trump administration announced plans to partially fund food aid for millions of Americans after two judges ruled that it must use contingency funds to pay for the benefits in November during the government shutdown. This decision comes after the administration laid out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan in a filing in federal court in Rhode Island. The plan was made at the direction of a judge who had ordered the administration to use emergency funds to at least partially cover November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Administration’s Plan

The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the USDA is complying with U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s order and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds. However, while the administration said it would fully deplete the $5.25 billion in contingency funds, it would not use other funding that would allow it to fully fund SNAP benefits, which cost $8 billion to $9 billion per month. Skye Perryman, CEO and president of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement that the group is considering all legal options to secure payment of full funds.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, also said full benefits should be paid. “It is not enough to do the bare minimum — the administration should stop playing politics with hunger and use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table,” Klobuchar said in a statement.

The administration said $600 million would be used to fund states’ administrative costs in administering SNAP benefits, leaving $4.65 billion to cover 50% of eligible households’ current allotments.

Details on Payments

The administration said it would provide details to states on Monday on calculating the per-household partial benefit. The process of loading the SNAP cards, which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, can take up to two weeks in some states. However, the USDA warned in a court filing that it could take weeks or even months for states to make all the system changes to send out reduced benefits. The average monthly benefit is usually about $190 per person. Benefits will still be delayed in November because many beneficiaries have their cards recharged early in the month and the process of loading cards can take a week or more in many states.

State Governments Step In

Most states have boosted aid to food banks, and some are setting up systems to reload benefit cards with state taxpayer dollars. The threat of a delay also spurred lawsuits. Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia, challenged the plan to pause the program, contending that the administration has a legal obligation to keep it running in their jurisdictions. Cities and nonprofits also filed a lawsuit. On Friday, judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled separately that the administration must continue to pay for SNAP. They both gave the administration leeway on whether to fund the program partially or in full for November.

Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary Food Nutrition and Consumer Services for USDA, said in a court filing Monday that the department chose not to tap other emergency funds to ensure there’s not a gap in child nutrition programs for the rest of this fiscal year, which runs through September 2026.

Advocates and beneficiaries said halting the food aid would force people to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills. The majority of states have announced more or expedited funding for food banks or novel ways to load at least some benefits onto the SNAP debit cards.

New Mexico and Rhode Island officials said Monday that some SNAP beneficiaries received funds over the weekend from their emergency programs. Officials in Delaware are telling recipients that their benefits won’t be available until at least Nov. 7.

To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a family of four’s net income after certain expenses can’t exceed the federal poverty line, which is about $32,000 per year. Last year, SNAP assisted nearly 42 million people, about two-thirds of whom were families with children.

Conclusion

The government shutdown has had a significant impact on the SNAP program, leaving millions of Americans without access to food aid. The administration’s decision to partially fund the program has been met with criticism from Democrats, who argue that the administration should use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the administration will proceed with funding the SNAP program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SNAP program?

The SNAP program, also known as food stamps, is a government program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families.

How many people does the SNAP program assist?

The SNAP program assists nearly 42 million people, about two-thirds of whom are families with children.

What is the eligibility criteria for the SNAP program?

To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a family of four’s net income after certain expenses can’t exceed the federal poverty line, which is about $32,000 per year.

How will the government shutdown affect the SNAP program?

The government shutdown has resulted in a delay in SNAP benefits, leaving millions of Americans without access to food aid. The administration’s decision to partially fund the program has been met with criticism from Democrats, who argue that the administration should use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table.

What are the consequences of halting food aid?

Halting food aid would force people to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills, which could have severe consequences for low-income individuals and families who rely on the SNAP program to access food.