Trump Admin Says SNAP Will Be Partially Funded After Judges’ Rulings/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration announced it will partially fund the SNAP food aid program following federal court rulings. The USDA had initially planned to halt payments due to the ongoing government shutdown. Legal challenges and judicial orders have now forced the program’s continuation, though delays in benefit distribution are expected.
SNAP Program Funding Crisis Quick Looks
- The Trump administration will partially fund SNAP after court rulings.
- The USDA originally planned to freeze payments starting November 1.
- SNAP serves approximately 42 million Americans monthly.
- Federal judges ordered use of contingency funds to sustain the program.
- The administration now has until Wednesday to issue partial benefits.
- Full payments would have required action by Monday.
- States and nonprofits sued to keep the program operational.
- Distribution of benefits may still be delayed by up to two weeks.
- Previous work requirement waivers must continue during the shutdown.
- Some states are offering alternative aid or using state funds.
Trump Administration Ordered to Partially Fund SNAP: A Deep Look
Amid an intensifying government shutdown, the Trump administration announced on Monday that it would partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), following two separate federal court rulings that required the continuation of food aid to millions of Americans.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages SNAP, had previously warned that payments for November would be halted due to a lack of federal funding caused by the ongoing budget impasse. SNAP, which provides essential grocery aid to about 1 in 8 Americans, costs around $8 billion each month and is a cornerstone of the U.S. social safety net.
The USDA’s initial announcement triggered widespread concern. Food banks braced for a surge in need, state agencies scrambled for alternative funding, and millions of low-income individuals feared losing access to basic necessities. On average, a SNAP beneficiary receives about $190 monthly, a sum crucial to many households’ food security.
On Friday, federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that the federal government could not legally stop funding the program. They ordered the Trump administration to use an existing $5 billion contingency fund to continue SNAP benefits at least partially. The rulings also left open the possibility of using additional federal funds—approximately $23 billion—that could allow full funding.
In Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. set a deadline of Monday for full funding, or Wednesday for partial funding. Partial funding requires recalculating benefits for millions of recipients, a complex task involving coordination among federal and state agencies, as well as private vendors responsible for recharging benefit cards.
McConnell made it clear that the federal government must continue to honor previously granted work requirement waivers, which had been suspended during the shutdown. These waivers exempt groups such as older adults and veterans from having to meet strict employment criteria to receive benefits.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani echoed the sentiment, ruling that suspending SNAP violated legal obligations. She ordered the administration to confirm by Monday whether they would proceed with reduced benefits using emergency reserves, or if they would use available federal resources to fully fund the program.
President Donald Trump addressed the issue Friday via social media, stating he does “NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.” He claimed he had instructed federal attorneys to ensure SNAP payments were processed swiftly, though his administration had earlier reversed a plan to use the contingency fund.
The impact of the funding lapse and the legal battle has already been felt. In Rhode Island, recipients who also receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) saw small deposits—approximately one-fourth of their usual SNAP amount—over the weekend. In Delaware, state officials announced that SNAP benefits wouldn’t be available until at least November 7.
States have responded in a variety of ways. Several have increased funding to food banks, while others are working to establish emergency programs to reload benefit cards using state tax dollars. Democratic governors and attorneys general from 25 states, along with the District of Columbia, have joined legal efforts to block the federal government from pausing the program.
National nonprofit organizations also entered the legal fray, arguing that halting SNAP would force millions of vulnerable Americans to choose between food and other essentials like rent or utilities.
Eligibility for SNAP in 2025 remains based on a household’s net income after allowable deductions. For a family of four, the threshold is roughly $32,000 annually. The program currently serves nearly 42 million people, two-thirds of whom live in households with children.
Even though the court-mandated payments will keep food assistance flowing, administrative delays may result in benefits not being accessible for up to two weeks in certain states. This lag is largely due to the complex infrastructure required to load funds onto SNAP debit cards and the time needed for interagency coordination.
As legal deadlines approach and political gridlock in Washington continues, SNAP recipients, advocacy groups, and state officials are all anxiously monitoring whether the Trump administration will expand beyond partial payments—or if the food aid program will continue to operate under reduced capacity.
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