Approximately 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” for assistance. During the government shutdown, only 65% of the funds were distributed using emergency funds, leaving the program underfunded. As the legal battle unfolds and with the federal government shutdown possibly coming to an end, the distribution of SNAP benefits in the next steps is garnering significant attention.
Congress or the Supreme Court’s actions and decisions in the next two days will determine whether the suspension of SNAP benefits will continue or if the Trump administration must fully fund states regardless. Since the beginning of the month, funding for the program has been frozen due to the government shutdown.
The most direct path to swiftly restore the full coverage of “food stamps” benefits is for Congress to reach an agreement on funding to reopen the government. If the federal government shutdown ends, the benefits payment is expected to resume promptly.
Late Monday night, eight Democratic senators joined Republicans in the Senate to pass a bill to fund the federal government. The bill not only extends funding for the government until January but also plans to provide funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) until September next year, including $107.5 billion specifically allocated for SNAP benefits.
The bill still needs approval from the House of Representatives. Federal lawmakers are set to return to Washington on Wednesday to vote on the proposal. Once passed, the bill will be sent to President Trump’s desk for signing and implementation.
With the government shutdown reaching a record length and congressional funding stalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the suspension of full payment for SNAP benefits in November. Typically, funds for these benefits are allocated to states at the beginning of the month.
This move has quickly sparked legal battles. Despite the federal government’s strong opposition, a judge ordered the Trump administration to reallocate $4.6 billion from emergency funds for the SNAP program. Subsequently, another order directed around $4 billion in tariffs to be used for November’s SNAP benefits.
Following the federal government’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, the justices issued an administrative stay, halting the lower court’s mandate for full payment of November’s SNAP benefits that was supposed to take effect last Friday evening.
After nearly three weeks of legal battles, with some states benefiting from the reallocated $4.6 billion from emergency funds deciding to fully pay SNAP benefits in November or announcing full SNAP payment coverage, other states are following the Administration’s plan and only disbursing 65% of the funds. To assist beneficiaries in understanding benefit changes, the non-profit organization Food Research & Action Center has launched a “shutdown tracker,” providing real-time updates on state benefit policies.
If the House of Representatives fails to pass the Senate’s funding bill this week, the distribution of SNAP benefits will rest on the decision of the Supreme Court.
Previously, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Supreme Court justice appointed by former President Biden and responsible for handling emergency matters in Rhode Island, issued an administrative stay. Following the breakthrough in Congress on Tuesday night after the deadlock, the Supreme Court ruled to extend the administrative stay for two days. This time, Justice Jackson openly expressed dissent.
Should the House swiftly pass the Senate’s funding proposal and President Trump signs it into law, further intervention from the Supreme Court will not be necessary for the resolution of the “food stamps” funding case.
However, regardless of Congress’s action on the funding bill, the lower court’s order for full payment of SNAP funds, set to take effect at 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, November 13th, unless the Supreme Court intervenes again and issues a ruling for an administrative stay.