Overview
- Two federal judges on Friday directed the administration to tap contingency funds or identify lawful sources to keep SNAP running, with compliance updates due Monday.
- President Trump said he would authorize funding if given clear legal direction, even as USDA lawyers argue existing statutes restrict use of certain accounts during the shutdown.
- The contingency reserve holds roughly $5–6 billion versus an estimated $8–9 billion needed for a full month, making partial coverage and shortfalls likely.
- Even if funds are released, EBT systems typically require one to two weeks to reload benefits, creating a high risk of delayed November distributions for 42 million recipients.
- States are rolling out uneven stopgaps—New York’s $65 million for food aid, Oregon’s $5 million for food banks, Virginia’s temporary program, and California’s $80 million support—while food banks report surging demand.