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By Aliss Higham
Reporter
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President Donald Trump has suggested his administration may find a way to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.
Speaking on board Air Force One during his trip to Asia, Trump told reporters "we’re going to get it done," but offered no details on how it might happen.
Why It Matters
Around 42 million low- and no-income Americans collect SNAP benefits every month, which are uploaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards to be used in grocery stores.
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SNAP, although a mandatory program, is funded through appropriations from the federal government. As these funds have not been made available due to the lack of agreement in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that benefits cannot be paid. The government shutdown has now reached its 29th day, running since since October 1.
"Bottom line, the well has run dry," a notice from the USDA reads. "At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01."
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What To Know
Trump blamed Democrats for jeopardizing food aid for 42 million low-income Americans, saying they had put critical federal assistance at risk of expiring this weekend.
Trump said on Wednesday that all the Democrats "had to do was sign," appearing to suggest they could have prevented the lapse by supporting a funding bill.
The USDA has emergency funds if normal funding avenues are not approved. However, in a memo reviewed by Newsweek, the department said that the $5 billion in contingency funds cannot be used to cover SNAP benefits because “SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for." It added that the funds are reserved for programs meant to provide aid during disasters.
The USDA also said that using the emergency dollars would take away from other programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch Program, and Child Nutrition Programs.
Numerous Democratic states have filed legal action against the Trump administration, saying the USDA is legally required to use a contingency fund to pay for continuing benefits.
What People Are Saying
The Democratic states said in the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts: "Because of USDA’s actions, SNAP benefits will be delayed for the first time since the program’s inception.
"Suspending SNAP benefits in these circumstances is both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act."
The White House said in a post on X on October 27: "Over 40 million Americans face the risk of losing critical SNAP food benefits. This crisis could be resolved if Democrats prioritized the needs of the American people over political games."
What Happens Next
SNAP benefits will remain unpaid until the government shutdown ends or a court orders the USDA to use contingency funds.
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