The Trump administration announced on November 3, 2019, that it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for millions of Americans as the government shutdown continues. This decision follows rulings from two judges requiring the use of contingency funds to ensure that SNAP benefits are disbursed in November.
In a filing to the federal court in Rhode Island, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) detailed its plan to comply with U.S. District Judge John McConnell‘s order. The USDA confirmed that it will utilize emergency funds to meet at least half of the SNAP benefits for eligible households. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the USDA is committed to expending the full amount of available SNAP contingency funds today.
While the administration will draw upon the $5.25 billion in contingency funds, it has opted not to tap into additional funding that could fully cover the SNAP benefits, which total between $8 billion and $9 billion per month for approximately 42 million Americans. Of the contingency funds, $600 million will be allocated to cover administrative costs for states managing the SNAP program. Consequently, $4.65 billion will be available to support about 50% of current benefits for eligible households.
This partial funding marks an unprecedented move in the history of SNAP. A USDA official warned in court that many states, responsible for the day-to-day administration of SNAP benefits, may require several weeks to months to adjust their systems to accommodate the reduced benefit amounts.
SNAP benefits are designed to assist eligible individuals and families whose income falls below 130% of the federal poverty line. For context, this threshold translates to an income of $1,632 per month for a one-person household and $2,215 for a two-person household in many regions.
The ongoing government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2019, has jeopardized these vital food assistance benefits. Both Republicans and Democrats have exchanged blame for the impasse, leading to uncertainty for millions who rely on SNAP. Earlier in October, the USDA indicated that funds were insufficient to cover full benefits and announced plans to suspend SNAP payments starting November 1.
In a critical turn of events, Judges McConnell and Indira Talwani of Boston ruled that the administration has the discretion to access a separate fund containing approximately $23 billion. Patrick Penn, the USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services, indicated in court documents that while the agency is contemplating the use of these funds, they are prioritizing their availability for child nutrition programs rather than SNAP.
As the shutdown drags on, the implications for millions of Americans relying on food assistance remain profound, and the administration’s decisions in the coming weeks will be closely monitored.
