The US government shutdown has left millions of low-income Americans struggling to receive food stamp payments. A Supreme Court order has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s decision to withhold funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program, which provides aid to one in eight Americans, is facing a contentious legal battle over its future. Here’s a timeline of key events:
In October, the government shutdown began after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding federal agencies and programs. However, SNAP was able to pay benefits for the month, thanks to a reserve fund.
As the shutdown continued, the Trump administration informed states that it would not tap its $5 billion reserve to provide partial benefits under SNAP. This decision reversed earlier guidance from the Agriculture Department, which stated that it would use its contingency funds to sustain the program.
Two dozen states sued the Trump administration over its refusal to continue funding SNAP, citing concerns that the cuts were unnecessary and illegal. The states asked a federal judge in Boston to order the Agriculture Department to restart funding for SNAP.
The case made its way to a second coalition of cities, religious groups, and nonprofits, who also sued the Trump administration. They argued that the cuts would cause irreparable harm to food stamp recipients.
In November, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled against the Trump administration, ordering it to tap emergency funds and consider using tariff revenue to pay benefits quickly. The president threatened to defy the court order, but later said the administration would comply with the ruling.
The case then went before the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, where the Justice Department argued that there was no lawful basis to force the president to fund SNAP payments in full. However, a Supreme Court order temporarily halted the appeals process, allowing states to begin releasing full benefits to their residents.
Despite this development, many states struggled to sort through the confusion and delay plans to provide full SNAP benefits. Food stamp recipients also faced trouble using their benefits to buy groceries. The dispute over SNAP funding remains unresolved, leaving millions of Americans uncertain about their access to food aid.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/us/politics/snap-payments-timeline.html