The Trump administration has directed states to stop their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments. This order was reiterated in a recent USDA memo, emphasizing that states need to reverse any arrangements they made for full SNAP benefits for November 2025.
The USDA also warned that failure to comply could lead to various consequences, including cutting federal funding for state administrative costs.
On the legal front, a temporary ruling by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson blocked an order that would have ensured complete SNAP payouts for November, although this ruling doesn’t address the deeper legal issues at play.
This situation has emerged amidst a government shutdown that has been ongoing for over a month. As SNAP funding is federally sourced, states manage the distribution to eligible residents, with around 41.7 million Americans having benefited last year.
While many states have set aside emergency funds and directed individuals to local food banks due to the impending SNAP suspension, some residents now find themselves facing loss of benefits beginning this month.
Recently, President Trump stated that SNAP benefits would be withheld until “radical left Democrats open up the government.” He criticized previous administrations for lax distribution policies, claiming that the increase in SNAP benefits during Biden’s term was due to handing out resources to anyone who asked rather than to those truly in need.
Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) expressed optimism that the ongoing shutdown might resolve by Thanksgiving, reiterating the need to act swiftly to reopen negotiations.
The Hill has sought comments from the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Agriculture regarding this situation, while the White House has directed inquiries to OMB.
