Overview
- The Trump administration planned to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments during the shutdown, but a judge ordered the program to continue using emergency reserves.
- Despite the ruling, benefits were reported postponed, with cutoffs noted on Saturday as agencies struggled to disburse funds.
- The USDA has said SNAP funding has run dry during the shutdown, underscoring the gap between legal directives and payment logistics.
- Michael Che criticized social media videos that celebrate families losing access to groceries, saying the content targets Black communities and stigmatizes poverty.
- Earlier this year, entertainers including Scarlett Johansson, Matt Damon, and Kristin Chenoweth signed an open letter urging Congress to reject proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in the administration’s 'Big Beautiful Bill.'