The federal shutdown has disrupted the usual flow of government services, including SNAP, which helps 42 million low-income Americans access essential food. With the shutdown now approaching a record duration, federal court rulings have forced the administration to tap into emergency funds to cover half of the expected November benefits. However, due to procedural delays, the rollout of this funding will be slow, leaving many recipients wondering when they will see their reduced benefits.
The Challenges of Providing Partial SNAP Benefits
According to a filing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the administration plans to use $4.65 billion from the program’s contingency fund to cover 50% of the SNAP benefits for November. However, the total cost of SNAP benefits exceeds $8 billion per month, meaning the fund will not be enough to cover the full amount. This decision comes after a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the USDA must either provide full or partial benefits due to the ongoing shutdown.
The USDA’s use of contingency funds, which are typically reserved for natural disasters, has drawn scrutiny. The department confirmed that no additional funds will be drawn from sources like tariff revenue, which are intended for child nutrition programs. This has left the administration with little flexibility in fully funding the program, especially as a critical portion of the budget has already been earmarked for other priorities.
However, the most pressing issue lies in the execution of this partial funding. The USDA has warned that delays in distributing benefits could range from weeks to several months. State agencies, which are responsible for administering SNAP, will need to adjust their systems to reflect the reduced benefits. Some states may require manual adjustments, which will only add to the delay. The process of reprogramming systems to accommodate reduced benefits is particularly complicated, as many states are working with outdated infrastructure.
Court Orders and Political Pressure
The ongoing legal battles surrounding SNAP funding highlight the deep political tensions over the shutdown. Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have issued orders requiring the Trump administration to act swiftly to release emergency funds, but the administration has pushed back, arguing that it lacks the legal authority to fully fund SNAP without additional congressional support. The USDA’s decision to use contingency funds was prompted by a ruling that these funds should be tapped when the program faces funding lapses during emergencies like the current shutdown.
The political dimension of this crisis is also underscored by the response from lawmakers. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) criticised the administration’s limited approach, calling for all available resources to be used to fully fund SNAP.
As the deadline for disbursement approaches, state officials are scrambling to find interim solutions. Some, including in California and Texas, have converted stadium parking lots into mass food distribution sites to help bridge the gap. Other states, like New Jersey, have deployed National Guard members to assist food banks, but the overall response remains fragmented and unable to meet the full demand.
For now, the future of SNAP remains in limbo. While the administration has expressed its commitment to complying with court orders, the slow rollout of partial benefits will do little to alleviate the immediate strain on families already facing the harsh realities of the shutdown.
