USDA to Partially Fund November SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today it will utilize a contingency fund to provide partial November benefits to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the government shutdown continues, averting a complete halt to food assistance for millions.
In a declaration submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, USDA official Patrick Penn stated the administration “intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Approximately $4.6 billion is available in the contingency fund, enough to cover 50% of current allotments for the more than 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. This decision comes after court orders compelling the administration to access the funds, which had previously been disputed as unavailable for benefit payments. The ongoing shutdown, now in its 34th day, is poised to become the longest in U.S. history if a resolution isn’t reached soon.
Justice Department lawyers informed the court that states will receive information Monday to calculate the reduced benefits, with disbursements expected to begin shortly thereafter. However, officials cautioned that “payment errors and significant delays” are possible due to the necessary adjustments to varying state eligibility systems. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, urged the administration to explore all options for full funding, stating, “It is not enough to do the bare minimum — the administration should stop playing politics with hunger and use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table.” You can learn more about SNAP eligibility requirements by state on the USDA website.
Democracy Forward, representing municipalities and nonprofits that filed suit against the administration, indicated it is “considering all legal options to secure payment of full funds.” Skye Perryman, the group’s president and CEO, said, “It shouldn’t take a court order to force our president to provide essential nutrition that Congress has made clear needs to be provided.” The USDA indicated it will continue to work with states to implement the partial benefit distribution, despite the logistical challenges.
