The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faced major delays this month due to the government shutdown and legal battle between the Trump Administration and federal courts, causing uncertainty for millions of low-income families that rely on the program for access to healthy meals. Although the shutdown ended this week, it will take time for states and the USDA to restore full payments. Nutrition advocacy groups like Hunger Free America worry the disruption to SNAP funding will deepen public mistrust of the program.  

A timeline of key events:  

  • Nov. 1: U.S. District Judge John J. McConnel, Jr. ordered the Trump Administration to make full food benefit payments by Nov. 3rd or partial payments by Nov 5th.   
  • Nov. 3: The Administration announced plans to partially fund SNAP.  
  • Nov. 6: Judge McConnell re-ordered full funding by Nov. 7th. Some states began issuing benefits as the Administration filed an appeal seeking an administrative stay.  
  • Nov. 7: The First Circuit denied the Administration’s request, but Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking the ruling.  
  • Nov. 8: The USDA reversed its position, directing states not to issue full payments and warning they would be liable for any overpayments.  
  • Nov. 10: The Senate approved a funding bill that could resolve SNAP delays if the government shutdown ends.  
  • Nov. 11: The Supreme Court extended the order blocking full payments. However, if the government shutdown ends, the funding issue will be resolved. 

How Long Until Communities Start Receiving Food Benefits?  

Some states have issued full monthly payments, while others have distributed none. With the government reopening as of late Wednesday night, spokespeople from the White House and the USDA have stated that recipients in most states will receive their benefits within 24 hours, while it could take a few days in states that have not yet issued payments. Notably, SNAP benefits were one of the few programs that have been funded through the end of the fiscal year rather than simply continued at the current funding level through January.     

Benefits Status, AHPA States  

Distributed to Enrollees Thursday, November 6th   

  • California  
  • Hawaii 
  • Oregon  
  • Washington  

Distributed to Enrollees Friday, November 6th  

  • Kansas  
  • Wisconsin  
  • Colorado  

North Carolina issued full benefits then paused the issuance on Sunday, November 8th.  

 

AHPA extends our gratitude to our emerging colleague, Samantha Fragette, guest author of this article. 
Samantha is an undergraduate student in the University of Central Florida’s 
School of Global Health Management and Informatics.