Overview
- Two federal judges on Friday directed the administration to use emergency SNAP funds, with one ordering the contingency reserve tapped and another seeking a Monday update on how benefits will be financed.
- President Trump later said it would be his honor to fund SNAP if given legal authorization, even as government lawyers maintain the reserve cannot be used during the shutdown.
- The contingency fund holds roughly $5–6 billion versus about $8–9 billion needed for a full month, and officials and court filings note it can take roughly two weeks to reload EBT cards once payments resume.
- USDA had warned no November 1 benefits would be issued and argues using the reserve is unlawful during the funding lapse, while congressional efforts to pass a stopgap have repeatedly failed and appeals could slow relief.
- States have launched limited stopgaps—New York’s $65 million, Oregon’s $5 million, Virginia’s temporary plan and other emergency declarations—yet food banks report surging demand, with private efforts like DoorDash fee waivers and a Mark Cuban donation in Pennsylvania supplementing strained resources.