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10h ago

USDA to Cover Half of November SNAP After Court Orders, With Payments Delayed

Court orders forced the USDA to tap contingency funds, leaving recipients waiting.

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Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans.
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People receive groceries from the Curley's House Food Bank days before the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may expire due to the Federal government shutdown on October 30, 2025, in Miami, Florida.

Overview

  • The administration told courts it will obligate about $4.65 billion from SNAP’s contingency fund, covering roughly 50% of typical allotments for about 42 million people.
  • States must recalculate benefits and modify EBT systems, and USDA officials warned distributions could take days or weeks depending on the state.
  • The drawdown will largely exhaust the contingency reserve, leaving no cushion for new applicants or disaster aid if the shutdown continues.
  • Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bid to require full November SNAP payments, keeping broader funding tied to the shutdown dispute.
  • Responses vary by state, with some offering direct aid or boosting food banks and others declining to backfill benefits, and pantries report surging demand.