Overview
- Benefits did not load on Nov. 1, pausing aid for roughly 42 million people during the government shutdown.
- U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. ordered the administration to access about $6 billion, file a plan by Monday at noon, and issue at least a partial payment by Wednesday.
- The president says lawyers are seeking court clarification before releasing funds, and officials caution that state and vendor systems may need days or weeks to reload EBT cards.
- USDA contingency money falls short of a full month, with roughly $5.25–$6 billion available against an estimated $9 billion November need, pointing to partial disbursements at best.
- States and local groups are rolling out stopgaps, with Virginia’s VENA program set to load state-funded benefits starting Monday as food banks, schools and businesses report surging demand.