The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will partially restart funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after two federal court orders compelled the government to keep the critical food program running during the shutdown.
SNAP, which provides food assistance to roughly one in every eight Americans, was at risk after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned it would halt payments as of November 1 due to the prolonged shutdown. The program, a key pillar of national food security, costs more than $8 billion monthly. Officials say they will tap a $4.65 billion emergency reserve, enough to cover about half of the usual benefits.
The decision temporarily averts an immediate crisis, but it raises concerns that millions could face a similar situation in December if the federal impasse continues.
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The specific timing and amount that SNAP beneficiaries will receive remain uncertain. November payments, which were already delayed, could be further impacted as states scramble to adjust systems. Loading benefit cards typically involves multiple federal and state agencies and can take up to two weeks. The USDA cautioned that some states may require weeks or even months to implement the changes necessary for distributing reduced benefits. The average SNAP benefit stands at about $190 per person per month.
Food insecurity advocates, state officials, and nearly 42 million beneficiaries scrambled to respond when the USDA initially announced a shutdown-related freeze. Many states expanded food bank support or sought ways to supplement SNAP cards using state funds. The threat of a halt to food aid also triggered legal challenges.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled separately on Friday that the administration must draw from at least one emergency fund to keep SNAP operational. They gave the government until Monday to decide whether it would also use additional funds to fully cover November’s benefits.
In response, Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services at the USDA, stated that additional emergency funds would not be used. He said the decision was made to avoid gaps in child nutrition programs during the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends September 2026.
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President Trump took to social media Friday, asserting that he does “NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.” He added that he had instructed federal lawyers to expedite SNAP payments.
Democrats across 25 states, along with the District of Columbia, have opposed the freezes, arguing that the administration has a legal duty to provide uninterrupted aid. Lawsuits from cities and nonprofits reinforce that position.
Advocates warn that stopping food benefits could force recipients to choose between buying groceries and covering other living expenses. Many states have since increased support for food banks or found temporary ways to issue partial benefits.
In Rhode Island, for example, officials said that on Saturday, families who receive both SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families received one-quarter of their typical SNAP payment. In Delaware, recipients were informed they will not see funds until at least November 7, AP reported.
Qualifying for SNAP in 2025 requires a household’s net income to be at or below the federal poverty line, set at roughly $32,000 a year for a family of four.
