Trump Administration Relents, Partially Funds SNAP Amid Shutdown

Breaking News: Trump Administration to Partially Fund SNAP Amid Shutdown The Trump administration announced Monday that it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November, following two federal judges' orders to utilize emergency reserves. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had initially planned to freeze payments starting November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. According to officials, the emergency fund, which contains approximately $4.65 billion, will be used to cover about half of the normal benefits. This move comes after a federal judge in Washington, D.C. and another in New York issued rulings requiring the government to keep the program running. The USDA had claimed it could no longer fund SNAP due to the ongoing shutdown. The partial funding of SNAP is expected to have an immediate impact on millions of Americans who rely on the program. The USDA has stated that the emergency fund will be exhausted, potentially setting the stage for a similar situation in December if the shutdown continues. SNAP serves approximately 1 in 8 Americans and is a vital component of the nation's social safety net, with monthly costs exceeding $8 billion. The program provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. The Trump administration's decision to partially fund SNAP is a response to the federal judges' orders, which were issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups. The lawsuit argued that the government's decision to freeze SNAP payments would cause irreparable harm to vulnerable populations. As the federal government shutdown continues, the fate of SNAP and other essential programs remains uncertain. The Trump administration has not announced plans to fully fund SNAP beyond November, and the emergency fund's exhaustion may lead to further disruptions in December.