Trump Administration Announces Partial Funding for SNAP Amid Shutdown

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Trump administration announced on Monday it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after federal judges ruled that the program must continue during the ongoing government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned to freeze payments starting November 1, citing a lack of funding.

The USDA will use $4.65 billion from its contingency fund, enough to cover about 50% of the normal SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million recipients. As a result, many households will only receive half of their usual benefits this month.

The decision comes after two federal judges ordered the USDA to provide at least partial payments, asserting that the program is a critical component of the nation’s social safety net. The average SNAP benefit per person is around $190, but many could see delayed payments this month due to the logistical challenges posed by the shutdown.

“There’s a process that has to be followed. We’ve got to figure out what the process is,” Agriculture Secretary Scott Bessent told CNN, indicating that full benefits would be difficult to restore quickly.

In court documents, Patrick Penn, a USDA official, expressed concerns about exhausting the funds, stating that depleting the contingency account would prevent the USDA from providing assistance to new applicants and also hamper disaster relief efforts.

Despite the announcement, states warned it could take weeks or even months for the reprogramming necessary to issue the reduced benefits. Attorneys general from 25 states are involved in ongoing lawsuits against the administration, emphasizing the need to ensure that vulnerable families have access to food assistance.

President Trump indicated on social media that he was committed to ensuring Americans do not go hungry. He even stated, “It will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding,” in reference to the ongoing legal efforts to restore full SNAP benefits.

While the administration is finding ways to distribute the emergency funds now, it could face another round of difficulties next month if the government shutdown persists.