This weekend has been a confusing one when it comes to an assistance program millions of people in the U.S. rely on to stay fed. Here’s the latest on what’s going on with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This anti-hunger program helps around one in eight Americans every month and nearly 40% of those recipients are children, per the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A statement posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website this week said that “the well has run dry” for SNAP benefits due the ongoing government shutdown.
“At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01,” it said.
Republicans and Democrats are currently battling over government spending, particularly over healthcare issues. The administration of Republican President Donald Trump has laid the blame on Democrats in messages posted on federal websites.
“We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats,” said the USDA message regarding SNAP. “They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
In response to the announcement, 26 attorney generals from around the country sued the USDA, arguing that the USDA has billions of dollars in a congressionally appropriated contingency fund specifically set aside to ensure SNAP continues during funding lapses. On Friday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled that that the federal government must use its contingency funds to keep SNAP running.
“The court found that the administration’s decision to suspend SNAP benefits for November was likely unlawful and ordered the administration to report back by Monday on its plans to use contingency funding to execute November SNAP benefits,” said a press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
James’ press release noted that the court did “not formally grant the temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by the states,” Friday. Instead, it directed the federal government to take immediate steps to deploy funding.
However, Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins said this week that Democrats have been spreading “false” information about USDA contingency funds.
“There is a contingency fund at USDA,” she said. “But, that contingency fund – by the way doesn’t even cover, I think half of the $9.2 billion that would be required for November SNAP – but it is only allowed to flow if the underlying program is funded.”
Writing on Truth Social Friday, Trump also said: “Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do.”
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” the president said. “Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
Trump continued to blast Democrats for the ongoing shutdown, and even included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s phone number in his post. Saturday marks one month since the shutdown began.
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” Trump said. “The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
He also took to Truth Social Saturday to write about the shutdown and urge Republicans to “fight” and “win.”
Millions of SNAP beneficiaries are left worrying about food as Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate spending. Many states are working to make resources available to those impacted, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Illinois. States are also waiting on the news Monday will bring regarding the court’s ruling that the federal government must fund SNAP.
“Based on a federal court ruling on Oct. 31, we expect we will be able to provide at least partial SNAP and MFIP food benefits in November,” said the Minnesota Department of Children Youth and Families in a Friday statement. “These funds have not been released yet, and we don’t know exactly how much money will be available. But we’ve been preparing so we can get these important benefits to families as quickly as possible.”