Overview
- The White House told federal courts it will deplete roughly $4.5–$4.65 billion in SNAP contingency funds to provide about 50% of typical November allotments nationwide.
- USDA said states will receive instructions on calculating reduced amounts, but EBT reloads could take days or weeks before households see funds.
- Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered continued SNAP funding from emergency reserves after multistate lawsuits challenged the Nov. 1 halt.
- Food banks and community groups reported surging demand and expanded services, with large-scale distributions in Florida and Indiana, heightened pantry traffic in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and meal expansions by Houston schools.
- Officials warned the reserve covers only part of a month’s needs, leaving no cushion for new applicants or disasters and raising the risk of another lapse if the shutdown persists, with some local leaders cautioning about broader public safety impacts.