The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to provide reduced food aid to over 42 million Americans as the ongoing government shutdown approaches a historic duration without resolution. Specifically, recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, will receive only half of their usual monthly benefits due to the unavailability of federal funding.
Funding for the SNAP program has been on hold since the government shutdown began on October 1. While individual states manage the distribution of these benefits, they rely on federal funds to operate. The USDA indicated that clarity regarding the distribution of the adjusted funds will be provided to states by the end of Monday.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have ruled that the USDA should utilize $5.25 billion in emergency funds to ensure at least partial payments to SNAP recipients. Typically, SNAP expenditures amount to approximately $8 billion each month. The judges affirmed that the Trump administration could access contingency funds for this purpose. President Trump previously stated that the administration has sought court guidance on legally funding SNAP, noting that delays are expected despite possible immediate solutions.
On Sunday, in an interview with CNN, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that the president is awaiting legal directions on reallocating funds for SNAP, which may allow for distributions as soon as Wednesday after addressing necessary processes. Earlier in October, the USDA had indicated a halt in food assistance distribution, claiming funds were depleted.
Half of the states and the District of Columbia have initiated lawsuits against the federal government regarding this situation, contending that there is a legal duty to maintain the program in their areas. Some states have indicated they may utilize their own resources to continue SNAP benefits, which provide low-income Americans with reloadable debit cards for food purchases. On average, a family of four receives around $715 per month through the program, translating to about $6 per person, per day.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cglg632n719o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss