Why Is This Happening?

Funding gap from the shutdown

Because no full appropriations bill has been passed, many federal programs — including SNAP — are operating without fresh funding. The USDA has issued a memo that if the shutdown continues, it will not be able to pay full benefits.

Contingency funds and legal questions

While there are contingency or reserve funds (about $5 billion according to the USDA) set aside for emergencies, the administration has indicated it believes it lacks legal authority to tap them for this purpose.

At the same time, federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled that the government must continue funding SNAP, at least partially, because sufficient funds exist and the USDA has a legal obligation.

State‐by‐state variation

Because SNAP is administered at the state level (though federally funded), the impact differs by state. Some states have moved to allocate their own funds to help food banks and partially replace benefits.