US President Donald Trump's administration has announced the provision of reduced food aid to over 42 million Americans as the government shutdown enters its second month without resolution.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed in a court filing that those receiving food assistance will only obtain half of their regular monthly allotment after the government was forced to use emergency funding.
This funding uncertainty has persisted as the federal government has been shut down since October 1st, putting food assistance programs under stress.
While states administer the benefits, Slack relies heavily on federal funds which have been stalled during the shutdown. The USDA was mandated by federal judges to clarify how it would proceed with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) payments.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island compelled the administration to draw from $5.25 billion in emergency funds to issue at least partial benefits, despite Snap typically costing around $8 billion monthly.
In the wake of the USDA's announcement that it would stop funding Snap starting November 1, over half the states and D.C. responded with lawsuits challenging this halt, arguing a requirement to continue aid.
In a recent interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that while the president sought guidance from the courts on managing these funds, delays could continue to impact timely payments to families relying on food assistance.
Each month, an average family of four receives approximately $715 from Snap, translating to less than $6 per day per person for their grocery needs.
