Overview
- The USDA has warned states that no SNAP benefits will be issued Nov. 1 and said it would not use the program’s contingency funds during the shutdown.
- Two federal judges — Indira Talwani in Massachusetts and John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island — issued or signaled orders requiring the administration to identify funding options, including contingency reserves, with updates due Monday, and appeals are expected.
- Roughly 42 million people could miss assistance, and the program typically disburses about $8–$9.2 billion monthly, far exceeding the roughly $5–6 billion available in reserves.
- States are deploying partial stopgaps that cannot replace federal outlays, including New York’s $65 million for food banks and emergency measures in Virginia, Oregon, Rhode Island and New Mexico.
- Food banks and school districts are expanding distributions and outreach, and even if funds are released, EBT processing and vendor timelines could delay access to benefits.