The Trump administration faces mounting legal challenges over SNAP benefits amid a government shutdown, with federal courts rejecting attempts to cut food assistance to over 42 million Americans during the shutdown.
Story Snapshot
- USDA threatens states with financial penalties for issuing full SNAP benefits without authorization.
- A federal judge ordered full November benefits, but Supreme Court Justice Jackson paused the ruling.
- The government shutdown since October 1st leaves the SNAP program without appropriated funding.
- The administration refuses to use the $4.65 billion contingency fund for full benefit payments.
Government Shutdown Forces SNAP Funding Crisis
The SNAP program serves over 42 million Americans but lacks appropriate funding due to Congress’s failure to pass a spending bill before the October 1st government shutdown.
Unlike previous administrations that maintained full SNAP benefits during shutdowns, the Trump administration chose to limit payments to 65% of normal amounts. The program requires approximately $8 billion monthly for full benefits, while a $4.65 billion contingency fund remains unused by the administration’s choice.
Trump administration demands states ‘undo’ full SNAP payouts as states warn of ‘catastrophic impact’ https://t.co/XbvwkXeP1d
— Hartford Courant (@hartfordcourant) November 9, 2025
Late-Night USDA Memo Threatens State Compliance
Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn issued a Saturday evening memo warning states against unauthorized full SNAP payments for November 2025. The directive demanded states “immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits” and threatened financial penalties for non-compliance.
States face the potential cancellation of federal administrative cost-sharing and liability for “overissuances,” though the memo provided no clear mechanism for clawing back benefits already distributed to families.
Federal Courts Challenge Administration’s Benefit Reductions
U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell in Rhode Island initially ordered the administration to explore full benefit options, then mandated full November payments when partial funding proved insufficient.
The Trump administration immediately appealed, seeking emergency injunctions to block the order. While the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused the ruling pending further court review.
States Caught Between Federal Demands and Court Orders
More than half a dozen states had already issued full November SNAP payments by Friday, following the federal court order, before receiving the contradictory USDA memo demanding benefit reversals.
This creates an impossible situation where states must choose between federal agency threats and judicial mandates.
The administration’s refusal to use available Section 32 funds represents a policy choice rather than a funding limitation, leaving states to navigate conflicting federal directives while families await food assistance.
