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By Alia Shoaib
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instructed grocery stores not to offer special discounts to approximately 42 million Americans who use food stamps.
An email sent by the department to stores, posted on X by Catherine Rampell, co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend: Primetime, said: “You cannot treat SNAP-EBT customers differently than any other customer.”
The directive comes as benefit payments remain on hold during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
SNAP update: USDA tells grocery stores not to give discounts to customers on News
The USDA told Newsweek in a statement: "The SNAP 'equal treatment' rule requires retailers to offer eligible food products at the same prices and under the same terms and conditions as other customers, with the exception retailers cannot apply sales tax to SNAP purchases (7 CFR 278.2(b)). This rule prevents retailers from treating SNAP customers favorably or unfavorably."
The department confirmed that it had sent the email to SNAP-authorized retailers on October 30.
Why It Matters
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides millions of low- and no-income Americans with federal funds to buy groceries.
Payments have been halted as the federal government shutdown drags into its second month, with USDA saying in a notice on its website that “the well has run dry” and no benefits would be issued on November 1.
What To Know
USDA emailed grocery stores around the country telling them not to offer special discounts or deals to SNAP recipients amid the freeze, warning that doing so would violate the program’s “Equal Treatment Rule.”
That rule requires stores to sell eligible food items to SNAP-EBT customers at the same prices and under the same conditions as other shoppers.
The email said: “Offering discounts or services only to SNAP-eligible customers is a SNAP violation unless you have a SNAP equal treatment waiver.”
Rampell said that she was aware of at least two stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, only to withdraw it after receiving the email.
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Two federal judges have ruled that the government must pay for food stamps using emergency funds, following lawsuits from 25 states.
President Donald Trump's administration previously declined to use a contingency fund to continue benefits, arguing that the money was needed for emergencies like natural disasters.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday that government lawyers did not think the administration has the legal authority to pay for SNAP with the available money.
“I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” he said, adding: “Even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out.”
Republicans and Democrats have blamed each other for the shutdown, which began on October 1 and has become the second-longest in history.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Friday: “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.”
District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island wrote: "There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown."
What Happens Next
SNAP payments remain in limbo as the Trump administration explores whether emergency funds can be used, leaving millions of families unsure if or when they will get full benefits.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that the payments could resume as soon as Wednesday.
Update 11/7/25, 10:59 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the USDA.
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