FROM THE HILL: More than 40 million low-income food stamp beneficiaries are expected to receive less help with grocery bills — or no help at all — in the coming days.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress has already allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November.
There is between $5 billion and $6 billion currently in that fund, experts say. That’s not enough to cover the estimated $8 billion in SNAP benefits due out next month, but it would allow for partial payments to help low-income Americans defray food costs.
The USDA argues that the shutdown, manufactured by Democrats, doesn’t qualify as an unforeseen event like a natural disaster, making it illegal to spend the money on SNAP benefits during such an event.
On Friday, it released guidance stating it won’t use the contingency fund to cover SNAP benefits if the government shutdown extends beyond October 31. This move aims to pressure Senate Democrats to support a GOP spending bill to reopen the government.
I was just googling to find out what the eligibility is for SNAP and discovered @USDA is not fucking around. pic.twitter.com/eTTbTUWLz3
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) October 27, 2025
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