The ongoing federal government shutdown, which will set a record tomorrow for the longest one in history, is currently impacting approximately 42 million SNAP beneficiaries and more than 250,000 SNAP-authorized retailers across the United States. Some relief to SNAP beneficiaries, however, is on the short-term horizon. In response to federal court orders last week in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, yesterday USDA advised in court filings that the agency would provide $4.65 billion to states for November SNAP benefits from USDA’s SNAP contingency fund. The remainder of the contingency funds is going to states for administrative expenses and to fund Puerto Rico and American Samoa’s nutrition programs which was normally funded via block grants. USDA also advised both courts that the Section 32 (tariff) funds were not going to be made available to states to fully fund November 2025’s SNAP benefits.
Today, Patrick Penn, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services issued a memorandum to states regarding November’s SNAP benefits, advising that state agencies must take immediate action to implement a reduction in SNAP benefits. The reduction will impact one and two person households the hardest; those households will only receive the minimum monthly benefit specified in the revised allotment tables. In addition, state agencies must provide notice to SNAP households about the change in November SNAP benefits and are required to continue processing applications for SNAP authorization by beneficiaries.
Finally, because everyone loves additional drama during challenging times, earlier today, President Trump posted on Truth Social that SNAP benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.” This is entirely inconsistent with USDA’s court filings and memorandum to state SNAP agencies. Only time will tell whether USDA will adhere to its statements in court filings and release more than $4.65 billion in November SNAP benefits or follow the President’s non-official commentary; but the smart money would place their bets on the contingency funds being released in the next few days.
