President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States may not pay any SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, despite court orders to the contrary. The Trump administration informed a Rhode Island federal judge that it would cover only about half of the costs of the food stamp program in November, affecting approximately 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
In a social media post, Trump stated that SNAP benefits would only resume once the government shutdown ends, linking the decision to the actions of the Democratic Party. This move comes after two judges mandated the continuation of aid payments into the month, emphasizing the political, legal, and economic implications of Trump’s stance.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, responsible for overseeing SNAP, initially planned to freeze payments on November 1 due to funding challenges during the shutdown. With the program serving about 1 in 8 Americans and costing over $8 billion monthly, the government has allocated $4.65 billion from an emergency fund to cover half of the regular benefits.
Despite the administration’s commitment to fund partial benefits, Trump’s recent threat to withhold SNAP aid until the shutdown concludes has raised concerns. The White House’s conflicting statements have created uncertainty for millions of low-income Americans who heavily rely on the program for essential food assistance.
