The Trump administration has agreed to partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the government shutdown enters its third week, following a federal court ruling that mandated emergency spending. Key programs like SNAP officially expired over the weekend after Democrats blocked efforts to reopen the government multiple times in October. The administration’s decision comes amid pressure to sustain benefits for millions of Americans.
A $5.25 billion emergency fund was ordered by two federal judges to prevent immediate cuts to SNAP, though it will cover only about half of the program’s monthly $9 billion cost. The Department of Agriculture also faces restrictions on reallocating funds, with officials warning of “unacceptable risks” in using other programs to supplement SNAP.
Patrick Penn, who oversees SNAP at the USDA, emphasized that Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds cannot serve as a contingency for SNAP. “Using billions from Child Nutrition for SNAP would create an unprecedented gap in funding that Congress has never addressed through annual appropriations,” he wrote.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced efforts to verify SNAP recipients, targeting individuals ineligible for benefits. “On my first day, we asked states to provide SNAP data to ensure only Americans receive aid,” Rollins said. While 29 states complied, 21 refused, leading to lawsuits. In cooperating states, officials uncovered “massive fraud.”
Rollins criticized Democratic policies, claiming they prioritize “illegal aliens” over American workers. “The Democrat Party has turned its back on working Americans,” she stated. “Stopping handouts would force illegal immigrants to return home, costing Democrats 20+ seats after the next census.” She added, “President Trump will not tolerate waste, fraud, or abuse while hardworking Americans go hungry.”
