Overview
- Trump said on Truth Social that SNAP benefits would flow only after Democrats reopen the government, contradicting his administration’s pledge to issue partial aid under a court order.
- Following the ruling sought by 25 states and Washington, D.C., the administration began distributing about 50% of each household’s November benefit.
- The USDA told the court that only $4.65 billion of the $6 billion SNAP contingency fund remains, allowing for partial—but not full—payments.
- The initial halt marked the first full interruption of scheduled SNAP disbursements in decades and triggered legal action that forced a limited restart.
- Food assistance networks report rising demand, and advocates warn reductions will hit vulnerable groups hardest, including Black Americans who are overrepresented among SNAP recipients.