In brief
As the U.S. government shutdown stretches on without resolution, the Trump administration reveals its plan to allocate emergency funds aimed at providing reduced food stamp benefits to over 42 million citizens. The USDA has confirmed that these recipients will receive half of their normal monthly allotments. The decision comes after federal judges mandated the use of $5.25 billion from emergency resources to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), amidst concerns about the implications of the shutdown.
US President Donald Trump's administration has announced it will provide reduced food aid to more than 42 million Americans, as the government shutdown this week heads towards becoming the longest ever with no resolution in sight.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated in a court filing that recipients of food assistance will receive half of their typical monthly allotment, following the government's decision to dip into emergency funding.
Federal judges earlier mandated the Trump administration to devise a plan for compensating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps.
The funding for SNAP has been in limbo due to the shutdown, which has now lasted over a month.
While individual states manage the benefits, the program is contingent on federal funding, which has been effectively shut off since October 1.
States were expected to receive clarification on disbursing the reduced funds by the end of the day on Monday.
U.S. judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that the USDA must utilize $5.25 billion from emergency funds to enact partial payments to those enrolled in SNAP.
SNAP typically incurs a monthly cost of about $8 billion.
Both judges stated that the Trump administration is allowed to use contingency funds to provide necessary benefits.
President Trump previously stated he had directed lawyers to inquire with the courts on legally proceeding with the funding of SNAP, noting that despite seeking immediate guidance, there might be unavoidable delays.
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned in a CNN interview that the president wished to understand how to legally allocate funds for SNAP payments, contingent on government procedural hurdles. He indicated that funds could possibly be distributed by as soon as Wednesday.
Recently, the USDA announced a halt to food assistance allocations starting November 1 due to the government shutdown, stating: The well has run dry. Half of the states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against the administration over the food-aid freeze and asserted their legal responsibilities to maintain SNAP in their jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, various cities and non-profits have also initiated lawsuits, and some states plan to utilize their own funds to uphold SNAP benefits.
SNAP facilitates low-income Americans in purchasing groceries by offering them reloadable debit cards. Traditionally, a family of four receives an average of $715 per month, equating to just under $6 per day for each individual.
