Summary
Two federal judges have ordered President Donald Trump's administration to use contingency funds to continue payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. Despite this, it is uncertain when beneficiaries will receive their delayed SNAP benefits for November due to the logistical challenges in processing the payments.
Key Facts
- SNAP is a federal program that helps about 42 million low- and no-income Americans buy food.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wanted to pause SNAP payments starting November 1 due to a government shutdown.
- The program costs about $8 billion each month, while the available contingency funds are $5-6 billion.
- Two federal judges have ruled that the USDA must use the contingency funds to continue SNAP payments during the shutdown.
- Judges rejected the administration's claim that the contingency funds can only be used for natural disasters.
- The funding shortfall means November benefits will be delayed, and it may not cover the full month's costs.
- Without benefits, many SNAP recipients worry about affording food.
- State attorneys general and governors from 25 states challenged the decision to pause SNAP.
