Payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be distributed until the government reopens, President Donald Trump said Tuesday in a post on Truth Social.
“SNAP BENEFITS…will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!” Trump said in the post.
The announcement came just a day after the administration said it would partially fund the program following orders from two federal judges.
When reached by email, a spokesperson for the White House referred Newsweek to the president’s post on Truth Social.
Why It Matters
SNAP, which supports roughly 42 million Americans, faces major disruptions amid an ongoing federal government shutdown.
What To Know
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it would provide only partial SNAP benefits for November, using funds from the program’s contingency account.
The announcement came after federal judges in Rhode Island and Boston ruled that the government must continue funding SNAP during the shutdown.
On Tuesday, Trump said no payments will be distributed until the government shutdown is over.
The administration cited legal advice and operational constraints in determining that only 50 percent of the usual monthly benefits could be distributed to eligible households.
As the issue continues, many states have stepped in to provide assistance to residents facing food insecurity.
What Are SNAP Benefits?
SNAP, also known as EBT and food stamps, is a federal program providing low-income Americans with funds to purchase groceries, loaded onto an electronic card each month.
How Many Americans Are On SNAP Benefits?
About 1 in 8 U.S. residents receive benefits, nearly 42 million Americans, receive SNAP benefits, including low-income families, children and seniors.
How Much Are SNAP Benefits Per Month?Â
The amount of SNAP benefits received depends on the income of the recipients. Most residents on the program get an average of $187 a month per person.
How To Help People Losing SNAP Benefits
To help people who have lost their SNAP benefits, you can donate to food banks directly. Donations of food, hygiene products, and cash can all go a long way in helping people in need.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social on Tuesday: “SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly ‘handed’ to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters on Monday: “The president is desperate for SNAP benefits to flow to the American citizens who desperately rely upon it. He has bent over backwards, as you know, to get the troops paid, to keep WIC funding going. He’s found creative solutions. The SNAP situation…has legal impediments to that.”
Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, in a statement on Monday: “The courts have ordered the administration to use its contingency fund to partially cover food assistance to families in need this month — and have made clear it can use its transfer authorities to fully fund SNAP. It is not enough to do the bare minimum — the administration should stop playing politics with hunger and use all available resources to ensure Americans can put food on the table.”
What Happens Next
Millions of Americans face uncertainty regarding the amount and timing of aid, with state agencies likely to require weeks to process and disburse benefits. Legal challenges from Democratic state attorneys general and advocacy organizations could result in further court orders or new guidance.