Overview
- Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered the government to use emergency reserves, prompting USDA to allocate about $4.65 billion—roughly 50% of November SNAP benefits.
- President Trump warned he could withhold payments until the government reopens, but the White House said it will comply with the court and push out partial benefits as quickly as possible.
- States say technical updates and EBT processing will delay disbursements, with Nevada and others warning the reduced payments could take up to two weeks to reach households.
- Governors and mayors are mounting emergency responses, including California’s deployment of the National Guard and about $80 million for food banks, New York’s $30 million for meals, and expanded distributions in Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago.
- USDA guidance reminds retailers that SNAP-only discounts are prohibited under equal-treatment rules, even as food banks report rising demand during the funding shortfall.