SNAP Benefits Restored at 50%
: Trump Administration Taps Emergency Funds After Federal Court Intervention
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it would use $4.65 billion from emergency funds to provide limited SNAP food benefits to all Americans for the remainder of November, as federal courts require ongoing funding during the current government shutdown. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will distribute 50% of its standard monthly benefits to its 42 million low-income recipients who need assistance.
Courts Force Administration’s Hand
Two federal judges ruled Friday that the administration’s decision to halt SNAP benefits starting November 1 was “unlawful,” according to Al Jazeera. U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island and Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts issued nearly simultaneous rulings ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture to utilize emergency reserve funds to keep the nation’s most extensive anti-hunger program operational.
“There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” Judge McConnell wrote in his Saturday order, according to CBS News. He emphasized that “irreparable harm will start to occur if it hasn’t already, considering the anxiety it has caused many regarding the availability of food funding for their families”.
Texas Braces for Food Crisis
The government shutdown, which began on October 1, brought SNAP payment distributions to a halt, according to Texas Standard. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced that 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children, would lose their vital food benefits, valued at $617 million per month, after the shutdown ended on October 27.
The University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus told Texas Standard that federal law does not safeguard SNAP benefits during shutdowns because budget changes and exhausted funding resources make it challenging.
Food banks throughout Texas have been preparing for rising food needs. The Central Texas Food Bank assists 610,000 food-insecure families and serves 127,000 households that need SNAP benefits, totaling $44 million per month.
The Central Texas Food Bank CEO, Derrick Chubbs, told CBS Austin that people who had never needed assistance before now need help for the first time. The situation creates a devastating impact on these individuals. The organization stated that it cannot fill the substantial gap that would occur if SNAP benefits continue to be suspended.
Partial Relief, But Challenges Remain
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the administration would not challenge the court decision and confirmed that payments would start again on Wednesday, November 5th, according to the Economic Times. USDA official Patrick Penn stated in his court filing that the $4.65 billion contingency fund would support only 50% of eligible households in receiving their current benefit amounts, according to CBS News.
The administration stated in its filing that November benefits would cover 50% of current allotments for eligible households. Still, no funds would be available for new SNAP applicants who joined the program in November, according to Politico. The USDA reports that typical monthly benefits amount to $190.59 per person based on USA Today’s analysis of their data.
Political Pressure Mounts
The shutdown has received unfavorable ratings from 60% of voters nationwide who blame Republicans for allowing SNAP funding to expire, according to Rottinghaus during his Texas Standard interview. The current situation makes it challenging for Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick to win their upcoming elections, as they need to secure their reelections. The government shutdown prevents SNAP benefit distribution, although it does not terminate these benefits, according to Judge McConnell, as NBC News reported.
Historical Context and Program Scope
The United States operates SNAP as its main anti-hunger program, which received 70% of USDA nutrition assistance funding during fiscal year 2024, according to USA Today. The program supported 41.7 million people during fiscal year 2024, while the federal government allocated $99.8 billion for benefits.
The USDA established its first-ever funding restriction for SNAP, which marked a historic moment in the program’s 60-year existence, according to NPR. The three states with the highest number of monthly benefit recipients according to USA Today’s May 2025 data are California, Texas, and New York.