USDA Declines $5B; SNAP Benefits Halt Nov. 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced SNAP benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1 after the Trump administration declined to use roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to carry benefits through the partial government shutdown that began Oct. 1. The halt threatens about 41.7 million participants — roughly one in eight Americans — including many children, older adults, people with disabilities and working families, and food banks report rising panic as they prepare for surges. States from New Hampshire to Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Florida and New York are assessing contingency plans or pledging limited aid but say they lack roughly $8 billion needed to fully replace federal November allotments. A USDA legal memo and House Speaker Mike Johnson say the contingency fund cannot legally be tapped without a preexisting appropriation, while Democrats and advocates blame the administration and lawmakers for failing to ensure benefits. Officials warn missing November payments could devastate household food budgets, strain food banks and retailers, and increase political pressure for a rapid funding resolution. Territories and other nutrition programs such as WIC also face funding gaps and some local governments are pursuing emergency measures that may only partially cover shortfalls.