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8h ago

USDA Says November SNAP Payments Will Not Go Out During Shutdown

USDA cites legal limits on reserves to explain its decision.

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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 Friday.
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Overview

  • The department posted a notice saying no federal SNAP benefits will be issued on Nov. 1, putting roughly 41.7–42 million recipients at risk.
  • USDA declined to use multi‑year contingency funds and removed an earlier plan that contemplated doing so, and its public notice blamed Senate Democrats for the lapse.
  • The reserve is estimated at about $5–$6 billion, enough for roughly 60% of a month’s benefits; USDA warned states they would not be reimbursed if they front payments, and existing EBT balances remain usable.
  • States are taking limited steps, including emergency actions in Virginia and Louisiana and extra aid to food banks in California and New York, while most say they cannot replace federal disbursements.
  • Food banks and anti‑hunger groups say they cannot match SNAP’s scale and expect sharply higher demand, with the average benefit about $187–$188 per person per month.