The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stated it will not tap into its $6 billion contingency fund to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the government shutdown continues into November.
The decision, outlined in an internal agency memo obtained by CNN, means that roughly 42 million Americans could miss out on critical food aid next month unless the policy changes.
Conflicting Messages from the White House
Despite the USDA’s warning, President Donald Trump offered reassurance late Friday, telling reporters, “Yeah, everybody is going to be in good shape, yep.” However, he provided no specifics on how benefits would be funded.
His remarks appear to contradict the agency memo, which clearly stated that contingency funds are not legally available to pay regular monthly benefits during a lapse in appropriations.
What the USDA Memo Says
According to the memo, contingency funds may only be used to supplement benefits when appropriations exist but fall short of covering total costs.
“The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists,” the document reads. It also warns that states will not be reimbursed if they use their own money to fund SNAP payments.
Pressure Mounts on Congress to End Shutdown
The looming cutoff of food assistance intensifies pressure on Congress to end the shutdown, which began on October 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a federal spending package.
Democrats have refused to support a short-term deal that omits an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, while Republicans have accused Democrats of stalling and harming working families.
Agency Officials Sound the Alarm
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed last week that food stamp funding will be exhausted by the end of October if Congress does not act. Earlier this month, the USDA instructed states to hold off on November payments until further notice, citing insufficient funds to issue full benefits.
The department’s memo emphasizes that without congressional appropriations, the agency cannot legally disburse regular SNAP payments.
Lawmakers and Advocates Dispute the USDA’s Position
Democratic lawmakers and SNAP advocates argue that the USDA is misinterpreting the law and that it can and should use its contingency reserves to continue payments.
They estimate that covering November benefits would require about $8 billion, roughly $2 billion more than what remains in the contingency fund. Critics also urge the administration to explore alternative funding sources, as it has done for military payrolls during shutdowns.
Critics Say the USDA Is Legally Obligated to Act
“The claim that the administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false,” said Sharon Parrott, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) and a former federal budget official.
“In fact, the administration is legally required to use contingency reserves — billions Congress set aside for precisely this situation.”
USDA’s Own Shutdown Plan Raises Questions
Adding to the confusion, the USDA’s now-removed shutdown contingency plan reportedly stated that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP operations should continue.”
It also suggested that contingency funds could be used to cover benefits if a lapse occurs mid-fiscal year — directly contradicting the memo’s current interpretation. The agency has not commented on why the plan was taken offline.
Millions Could Lose Access to Food
About one in eight Americans rely on SNAP to help afford groceries, with recipients receiving an average monthly benefit of $188 per person, according to USDA data. For millions of low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals, a loss of benefits in November could mean choosing between food, rent, and medical expenses.
WIC Program Faces Similar Challenges
SNAP isn’t the only nutrition program under strain. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which serves nearly 7 million mothers and young children, narrowly avoided running out of funds earlier this month.
The administration redirected $300 million in tariff revenue from child nutrition programs to sustain WIC benefits through the end of October, according to the National WIC Association.
A Familiar Crisis for Federal Food Programs
This is not the first time food assistance programs have faced uncertainty during a government shutdown. During the record-long 2018–2019 shutdown, the USDA initially warned benefits would expire at the end of January. It later used a budget provision allowing obligated payments within 30 days of a funding lapse to cover February benefits. That workaround became unnecessary when the shutdown ended in late January.
The Stakes for Millions of Americans
If the current standoff continues, 42 million SNAP recipients could lose access to their food benefits in November — a devastating blow to low-income households already stretched by rising costs of living.
The USDA’s decision not to use its contingency fund leaves Congress with limited time to restore funding and prevent a lapse in one of the nation’s most vital safety net programs.
The Bottom Line
The unfolding crisis underscores the far-reaching human cost of political gridlock. Without swift congressional action, millions of families could face empty tables within weeks. For now, both the White House and the USDA remain at odds, and the fate of America’s largest food assistance program hangs in the balance.
