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12h ago

States Sue After USDA Says No November SNAP Benefits During Shutdown

USDA says emergency reserves cannot legally cover routine benefits, putting roughly 42 million recipients at risk.

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Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, conducts a news conference on July 17.
A sign advertises that WIC and Food Stamps are accepted at a convenience store, as tens of millions of Americans might not receive food stamps and other food aid in November because of the government shutdown in Chelsea, Massachusetts on Oct. 24, 2025.

Overview

  • The USDA posted a notice saying no federal SNAP benefits will be issued on Nov. 1 and used unusually partisan language blaming Senate Democrats.
  • Democratic leaders from 25 states filed suit in Massachusetts seeking a court order to force USDA to deploy contingency funds and maintain November benefits.
  • USDA argues the roughly $5–6 billion reserve is reserved for disasters and cannot lawfully fund monthly benefits during a lapse, and it warned states they would not be reimbursed if they pay on their own.
  • States are pursuing stopgaps such as emergency declarations, National Guard support for food banks, and limited state funding, while food banks warn they cannot replace SNAP at scale.
  • Congress remains deadlocked even as lawmakers introduce stand-alone bills to keep SNAP funded during the shutdown, leaving payments in jeopardy starting this weekend.