The Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after two federal judges ordered the government to keep the food aid program running despite the ongoing shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned to freeze payments starting November 1, citing an inability to continue funding during the federal shutdown. SNAP serves about one in eight Americans and costs roughly $8 billion per month nationwide.
Officials have not said how much recipients will receive or when benefits will appear on their EBT cards, which can take up to two weeks to process in some states. The average monthly benefit is about $190 per person.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled late last week that the administration must use a $5 billion contingency fund to pay for at least part of the program. The rulings gave the government until Monday to decide whether to fully fund or issue partial payments. Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island said partial payments, which require recalculating benefits, must be issued by Wednesday.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday that he does “NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” adding that he had directed government lawyers to ensure SNAP payments move forward as soon as possible.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115471065919157533
The USDA’s earlier decision to halt payments sparked lawsuits from 25 states led by Democratic officials and prompted food banks nationwide to brace for increased demand. SNAP, which has provided grocery assistance for over 60 years, supports about 42 million Americans—two-thirds of them families with children.
The administration initially declined to use the contingency fund but reversed course after the rulings. Judge McConnell also ordered the USDA to maintain all existing waivers for work requirements, which the agency had attempted to terminate during the shutdown.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani similarly ruled the suspension of SNAP unlawful and required the USDA to confirm by Monday whether it would use reserve funds to pay partial or full benefits.
