Trump Administration Says SNAP Will be Partially Funded in November

November 4, 2025

Following a federal government shutdown that threatened to halt SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million Americans, the Trump administration announced it would provide partial funding for November after federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ordered the government to maintain the program. The USDA will use $4. 65 billion from an emergency fund, covering roughly half of the normal $8 billion monthly cost, though the exact amounts beneficiaries will receive and timing remain unclear.

Who is affected

Approximately 42 million Americans (1 in 8) who receive SNAP benefits
Low-income families and individuals below the federal poverty line (approximately $32,000 annually for a family of four)
Specific individuals mentioned: Corina Betancourt and her three children in Arizona, and Jamal Brown in New Jersey
Low-income mothers receiving WIC benefits
Food banks experiencing increased demand
State governments managing benefit distribution
Democratic state officials and attorneys general leading lawsuits (including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and California Attorney General Rob Bonta)

What action is being taken

The USDA is partially funding SNAP for November using $4.65 billion from an emergency fund
The administration is providing $450 million in additional funding to the WIC program
States are loading benefit cards with the partial payments (a process taking up to two weeks in some states)
Multiple states are boosting aid to food banks
Some states are setting up systems to reload benefit cards with state taxpayer dollars
New Mexico and Rhode Island are distributing emergency SNAP benefits to some beneficiaries
Democracy Forward is considering additional legal options to force full SNAP funding

Why it matters

SNAP is the nation's largest food aid program and a major component of the social safety net, serving 1 in 8 Americans at a cost of over $8 billion monthly. The partial funding forces vulnerable populations, including families with children and disabled individuals on fixed incomes, to choose between buying groceries and paying other essential bills. Reduced benefits push people toward cheaper, less nutritious food options and increase reliance on food banks, which undermines public health for millions of low-income Americans. The situation also creates potential for recurring crises, as the emergency fund may be exhausted by December if the shutdown continues.

What's next

States will receive details from USDA on calculating per-household partial benefits
The process of loading SNAP cards will take up to two weeks in some states, potentially weeks or months for all system changes
California expects to load benefit cards within one week of receiving funding
Delaware officials indicate benefits won't be available until at least November 7
The situation could repeat in December if the shutdown isn't resolved and emergency funds are exhausted
Democracy Forward is considering additional legal options to force full funding

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint