Trump Administration to Partially Fund SNAP Following Federal Court Orders

The Trump administration announced Monday that it will move forward with partial funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after two federal judges ruled that the government must continue providing the food aid.

Officials have not yet clarified how much assistance recipients will receive or when the funds will appear on benefit cards. The process of loading the electronic cards—which requires coordination between federal and state agencies—can take up to two weeks in some areas. On average, SNAP provides about $190 per person each month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages the nation’s largest food assistance program, previously warned that November benefits would not be distributed because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. That announcement caused widespread concern among the nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the program, prompting food banks and state officials to seek emergency funding options.

Many states have already increased support for food banks or begun using state funds to temporarily reload benefit cards.

The administration’s decision follows separate court rulings from federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, both of whom determined that the government must use an existing $5 billion fund to at least partially cover SNAP costs. Full monthly benefits and administrative expenses typically total over $8 billion.

Judge John J. McConnell Jr., based in Rhode Island, gave the administration until Monday to choose whether to fully fund the program or implement a partial version. If opting for full funding, payments were required immediately; partial funding allows until Wednesday for the adjusted payments to be made.

Shortly after the rulings, former President Trump stated on social media that his administration would comply, though he did not specify the details of the plan.