Overview
- Without congressional or court action, November SNAP payments are set to halt Saturday for roughly 41–42 million people, a program that typically costs about $8 billion a month.
- USDA says contingency reserves are not legally available for routine benefits and has warned it will not reimburse states that front payments during the shutdown.
- New York declared a state of emergency and committed $65 million to bolster food banks, joining Oregon’s $5 million, Virginia’s plan to cover up to one month of benefits, and California’s fast‑tracked $80 million for food banks.
- A coalition of 25 states and Washington, D.C., is seeking a court order in Boston to compel SNAP funding, with Judge Indira Talwani considering motions that could have nationwide effect.
- Food banks report surging demand ahead of a potential lapse, while some governments balk at backfilling benefits, including an Indiana budget panel that voted down using state funds.