President Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that his administration would not distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown, contradicting a court filing his own administration submitted one day earlier. The statement has intensified a legal and political clash over how the federal government should support millions of low-income Americans during the budget standoff.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden's disastrous term in office... will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!" The message suggested benefits would be withheld until Democrats agree to pass a stopgap funding bill to reopen the federal government.
However, on Monday, the administration informed U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell in Rhode Island that it would pay roughly half of November's SNAP benefits using a remaining contingency fund. McConnell had previously ordered the administration to release emergency benefits and explore additional funding sources to prevent disruptions in food assistance.
The administration reported that it would draw from a $4.6 billion contingency fund to cover partial benefits but refused to tap more than $4 billion available through the Child Nutrition Program. It also declined to use more than $4 billion in emergency funds Congress set aside specifically for SNAP.
Attorneys representing plaintiffs challenging the benefit suspension urged McConnell to intervene, writing: "The Court should grant a temporary restraining order and preliminary stay on the ground that Defendants' decision not to provide full SNAP benefits - even though they have funds available to do so and even though switching to partial payments at this late date will cause devastating delay - is arbitrary and capricious."
The White House defended its approach. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is "fully complying with the court order," adding that delays stem from the Democrats' "untenable position" in refusing to pass a funding bill. She said the contingency funds being used were designed for "emergencies, catastrophes, or war," and argued that Trump does not want to rely on them permanently.
SNAP supports about 42 million Americans, or roughly 12.3% of the U.S. population, with electronic benefit cards used to buy groceries. Before the pandemic, the program lifted an estimated 6.6 million people above the poverty line, including 3 million children. Demand typically rises during the holiday season.
