US President Donald Trump’s administration ordered states over the weekend to stop distributing full food assistance benefits for November to 42 million low-income Americans at risk of food insecurity. Instead, they demanded that states issue partial payments of about 65% of a usual monthly benefit.
The USDA memo warns states that if they do not comply, they will face consequences, including cancellation of federal funding needed for administrative expenses. However, the move has left families across the country in agonized uncertainty as they stretch budgets while waiting for aid.
A bipartisan deal to end the longest government shutdown is expected to advance in the Senate late Sunday, which includes money to fund SNAP through September 2026. But the plan does not include funding for subsidies for Affordable Care Act health care premiums.
The administration’s move has reduced flights and led to mandatory overtime for air traffic controllers, causing headaches for travelers across the country. The issue is expected to worsen as the shutdown continues.
A Rhode Island judge had earlier ordered the Trump administration to release November SNAP benefits in full by Friday, prompting some states like Wisconsin and Maryland to disburse benefits despite the memo. The US Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit temporarily blocked the order, allowing the USDA to enforce its new policy.
Governors and state attorneys general are seeking the appellate court’s rejection of the administration’s efforts to stop full SNAP payments, citing concerns that it would be “lawful” to claw back benefits without due process.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/09/snap-benefits-states-usda-trump