Court-Ordered SNAP Halves Benefits, Leaving 42 Million in Hunger Limbo

The Trump administration announced on Nov. 3 it would use emergency funds to partially cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the 35-day government shutdown, a move compelled by court orders but leaving millions of recipients with only half their usual food aid, according to NBC News. The USDA's decision, while complying with judicial mandates, has sparked uncertainty about when full benefits will resume and how states and local organizations will mitigate the fallout.

SNAP, which serves 42 million low-income Americans—nearly 1 in 8—was suspended on Nov. 1 after the USDA froze funding, citing depleted contingency reserves, NPR reported. The partial payout, drawn from a $5 billion emergency fund, will cover 50% of typical benefits, with delays expected in distributing funds to recipients' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the contingency fund is insufficient to cover the full $9.2 billion needed for November, calling the process "cumbersome" and warning of prolonged delays .

Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had ordered the administration to act after ruling that withholding benefits violated statutory obligations. U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island gave the USDA until Nov. 3 to outline compliance with his order, while Judge Indira Talwani in Boston allowed the administration until Nov. 6 to decide on partial payments . White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration's "full compliance" with court rulings but framed the shutdown as a Democratic-led crisis, deflecting blame for the humanitarian strain, as Al Jazeera reported.

States and local governments have scrambled to fill the gap. California deployed the National Guard to support food banks, while governors in Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia allocated millions from state budgets to subsidize food aid. In Alaska, where 66,000 residents rely on SNAP, officials prioritized reissuing benefits to those displaced by Typhoon Halong, highlighting the compounding crises in rural and disaster-impacted areas .

Food banks nationwide reported surging demand, with some seeing tripled visitation rates. The Oregon Association of Food Banks warned that the strain could trigger a "public health crisis," particularly for seniors and children. In Texas, the Houston Food Bank began weekly distributions for SNAP participants, while restaurants in Seattle and San Francisco offered free meals to mitigate hunger .

The economic ripple effects are also mounting. The USDA's freeze has disrupted supply chains, with small grocers and farmers—many of whom depend on SNAP transactions—reporting sharp declines in revenue. In Hawaii, farmers expressed fears that lost SNAP sales would destabilize local agriculture, a key economic driver .

Legal challenges continue. Advocacy groups, including Democracy Forward, argued in court filings that the USDA's partial payments fail to address the "burdens" of reduced benefits, emphasizing that "time is of the essence when it comes to hunger" . Meanwhile, Republican governors like Idaho's Brad Little and Nebraska's Jim Pillen blamed Democrats for the shutdown, rejecting calls to use state funds to fully offset the shortfall .

As the shutdown approaches its 40th day, the path to resolution remains unclear. Congressional Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over funding disagreements, with the Senate adjourning until Nov. 7 and the House set to continue its recess. Without a deal, the USDA's contingency funds will be exhausted, leaving states with limited options to sustain aid.

For now, recipients are advised to stretch remaining EBT balances and seek assistance from local food pantries, as ABC7 explained. The USDA's state-by-state resource directory has become a critical tool for navigating the crisis, though many advocates warn that temporary fixes cannot replace the structural support provided by SNAP.

When SNAP benefits will arrive is still in flux. Here's what ...