Trump administration says it will issue reduced SNAP benefits with emergency funds during shutdown

Published November 3, 2025 1:44pm ET



The Trump administration told a federal judge on Monday that it will deplete the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program contingency fund to provide food stamp recipients with part of their monthly benefits.

Late last week, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the administration to use contingency funds and either fully or partially fund November payments, demanding an update on the administration’s compliance by noon on Monday. The Trump administration told McConnell it would use all $4.65 billion of the remaining contingency funds to pay for partial benefits for November, saying in a filing to the court on Monday that it would not tap into other funds to make full SNAP payments.

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