Overview
- U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the administration to fully fund November SNAP, citing harms to the 42 million people who rely on the program.
- The Justice Department moved to appeal the rulings after prior moves that paused then partially paid benefits during the shutdown.
- Deposits began returning for some recipients, with Sacramento County reporting restored CalFresh benefits and Bay Area users confirming full EBT loads, while Wisconsin anticipated FoodShare funds posting Friday.
- States deployed stopgaps to cover gaps, including Maryland’s $62 million plan to pay 50% of benefits beginning Nov. 11 and Contra Costa County’s $21 million grocery debit cards starting the week of Nov. 10.
- Access remains uneven as systems are reprogrammed, with food banks and local sellers under strain and Maryland markets providing $20 token vouchers to households with zero balances.