The Trump administration has announced it will distribute reduced food aid to more than 42 million Americans. This measure comes as the ongoing government shutdown shows no signs of resolution and is on track to become the longest in history.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated in a court filing that recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), commonly known as food stamps, will receive only half of their usual monthly allotment. This decision follows the government’s decision to tap into emergency funding.
Judges had set a deadline for Monday for the Trump administration to present a plan for paying out Snap benefits. However, funding for the program has been uncertain due to the shutdown, which began on October 1st.
The USDA informed states that they would receive guidance on distributing the reduced funds by the end of Monday. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had previously ruled that the USDA must use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to ensure at least partial payments for Snap recipients. Snap typically costs around $8 billion per month.
The judges agreed that the administration could legally use funds set aside for unforeseen circumstances to cover these benefits. President Trump had previously expressed his intention to seek court guidance on how to legally allocate funds for Snap payments, acknowledging that any distribution might face delays.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated on Sunday that the president was awaiting court approval for the legal reallocation of funds to continue Snap payments, potentially as early as Wednesday. He emphasized that a formal process must be followed.
Earlier last month, the USDA had stated it would not distribute food assistance funds starting November 1st, citing the shutdown and declaring that “the well has run dry.” In response, half of the U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against the administration, arguing they had a legal duty to maintain the program’s operations within their jurisdictions. Some cities and non-profit organizations also initiated legal action, while certain states indicated they would use their own funds to cover Snap benefits.
Snap is a crucial program that helps low-income Americans purchase groceries, providing them with reloadable debit cards for food purchases. On average, a family of four receives about $715 per month, which equates to slightly less than $6 per person per day.
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