The Trump administration has decided not to use emergency funds to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), risking the benefits of nearly 42 million Americans starting November 1. According to a memo obtained by POLITICO, the USDA has stated that it will not draw from a contingency fund or other nutrition programs to cover the cost of SNAP, which is set to run out of federal funds at the end of the month.
The contingency fund currently holds about $5 billion, which would not cover the full $9 billion needed to fund November benefits. Even if partially accessed, it would take weeks to distribute the money, leaving most low-income Americans without benefits. Congress is urged to act before November 1 to prevent this funding shortfall.
Congressional Democrats and anti-hunger groups have called on the administration to maintain SNAP benefits, arguing the federal government is legally required to tap other funds. However, administration officials claim using those funds would jeopardize other programs, such as school meals and infant formula. The White House blames Congress for the funding lapse, especially the repeated votes against a House-passed stopgap funding bill.
Administration officials expect Democratic governors and anti-hunger groups to sue over the decision not to tap the contingency fund for SNAP. The White House is blaming Democrats for the lapse in funding due to their repeated votes against a House-passed stopgap funding bill.
The Trump administration stepped in to shore up funding for key farm programs this week after also identifying Pentagon funds to pay active-duty troops earlier in the month. USDA said in the memo, which was first reported by Axios, that it cannot tap the contingency fund because it is reserved for emergencies such as natural disasters. The department also argues that using money from other nutrition programs would hurt other beneficiaries, such as mothers and babies as well as schoolchildren who are eligible for free lunches.
“This Administration will not allow Democrats to jeopardize funding for school meals and infant formula in order to prolong their shutdown,” USDA wrote in the memo.
Congress could pass a standalone bill to fund SNAP for November, but that would have to get through the Senate early next week and the House would likely need to return to approve it. Johnson said this week if the Senate passes a standalone SNAP patch, the House would “address” it.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he would lean toward using the emergency funds to help keep some food benefits flowing. “I think the President and GOP should do what we can to alleviate harm done by the Democrats,” he said in a text message.
Bacon also said he would support having the House return to approve a standalone bill should the Senate pass one next week: “I figure the Speaker would want to.”
Some states, including Virginia and Hawaii, have started to tap their own emergency funds to offer some food benefits in the absence of SNAP. But it’s not clear how long that aid can last given states’ limited budgets and typical reliance on federal help to pay for anti-hunger programs. USDA, furthermore, said states cannot expect to be reimbursed if they cover the cost of keeping benefits flowing.