(The Center Square) – Despite previously denying it had the legal authority to do so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it will use emergency funds to partially cover SNAP benefits for the month of November.
The change is in response to rulings from two federal judges, based in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The judges ordered the Trump administration to use reserve funds to ensure that the 42 million Americans on food stamps do not lose their benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.
USDA, however, says it only has enough emergency funds, roughly $4.6 billion, to cover 50% of November benefits. It will not tap other contingency funds, which historically have been used during events like natural disasters while the government is open.
Federal agencies like the USDA have remained unfunded since Oct. 1, when the government shuttered after Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ Continuing Resolution, a seven-week funding stopgap.
Since then, all but three Democratic senators have continuously filibustered the House-passed CR, demanding that Republicans promise to renew a costly pandemic-era expansion of Obamacare Premium Tax Credits.
Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers have blamed Republicans for the shutdown and the underfunding of SNAP.
“This is a very temporary band-aid from the Trump admin,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said on X. “Partial is not good enough. End this Republican shutdown now so we can fully fund SNAP.”
Sen. Patty Murray, another Democrat from Washington, insisted that the Trump administration fully fund SNAP while the government remains shuttered by tapping into all possible resources.
“Just now paying the bare minimum to partially fund SNAP is not enough, and it is not acceptable,” Murray, who voted 13 times against reopening the government, said. “Trump should immediately work to fully fund benefits under the law.”
The current shutdown marks the first time in modern history that SNAP funding has been disrupted. It is set to become the longest shutdown in American history if Congress continues on its path of partisanship. Monday marks the 34th day, and the longest shutdown ever lasted 35 days.
