The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to utilize its contingency fund to provide partial food stamp benefits as November approaches amid the ongoing government shutdown. This decision was announced during a court filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Details on SNAP Funding and Partial Payments
Patrick Penn, an official at the USDA overseeing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), confirmed that the administration plans to deplete the SNAP contingency fund to offer reduced benefits for November 2025. The contingency fund currently holds about $4.6 billion, which is intended to cover 50% of benefit allocations for eligible households.
- Estimated total required for full November benefits: $9 billion
- SNAP serves over 42 million Americans
The USDA’s funding source aims to assist the states in managing the temporary lapse in funding for the program, which has recently occurred due to the protracted government shutdown now entering its 34th day. If unresolved, this could become the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Judicial Intervention on SNAP Funding
Judge John McConnell is presiding over the case in response to a coalition of nonprofits and municipalities that have urged the Trump administration to use the contingency funds. The administration has until noon Monday to submit a status update regarding the distribution of these funds.
In a related case in Massachusetts, a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia filed a suit insisting that the administration must tap into the contingency funds. Judges in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts have contested the administration’s claim that it could not legally access these funds for SNAP benefits.
Challenges in Funding and Operation
Despite the provided funding, $4.6 billion falls short of the required $9 billion, thus complicating the SNAP operation. Officials claimed that calculating partial payments could lead to significant delays and operational challenges for states. To thwart potential disruptions, Judge McConnell has mandated that any such payments must be issued promptly, without delays extending beyond Wednesday.
Previous USDA Guidance and Future Needs
Initially, the USDA suggested that multi-year contingency funds could cover state administrative costs and participant benefits during a funding lapse. However, recent communication indicated that these reserve funds would not support regular benefits directly.
- 1 in 8 Americans rely on the SNAP program
This latest development highlights the significance of SNAP benefits in the lives of millions of Americans. As negotiations over the government shutdown continue, the effective distribution of these benefits remains a pressing concern for both lawmakers and beneficiaries alike.
