Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that it will not use its $6 billion contingency fund to cover food stamp benefits next month if the federal government shutdown continues, according to an internal memo obtained by CNN. The decision could leave roughly 42 million Americans without food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November, unless the agency changes course.
The USDA memo stated that the department’s contingency fund “is not legally available to cover regular benefits.” Instead, the fund can only be used to supplement existing appropriations when funding is temporarily insufficient. Because no federal budget has been passed for fiscal year 2026, officials said there is no legal basis to distribute SNAP benefits in November.
That revelation appears to clash directly with comments from President Donald Trump, who told reporters late Friday, “Yeah, everybody is going to be in good shape, yep,” when asked if he would direct the USDA to keep funding food stamps. The president did not offer details on how his administration might achieve that.
A Growing Risk for Millions of Low-Income Americans
If USDA’s position holds, November would mark the first month since the 1970s that SNAP recipients receive no benefits — a situation that advocates warn could cause widespread hunger and economic disruption. The average monthly benefit for a SNAP participant is about $188 per person, according to May 2025 data from the department.
The agency’s memo, first reported by Axios, added that states will not be reimbursed if they choose to front their own money to continue providing benefits. This effectively prevents state governments from stepping in to bridge the funding gap.
The potential suspension of food stamps is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began on October 1 after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending package. The standoff has now stretched deep into its fourth week, with no sign of resolution.
A Political Standoff Deepens
Congress remains deadlocked, as Democrats refuse to support a short-term spending bill that does not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Meanwhile, Republicans blame Democrats for prolonging the shutdown and harming Americans who depend on federal assistance.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters last week that the department’s remaining SNAP funds would “run dry by the end of the month,” underscoring the urgency of the situation. Earlier this month, USDA informed state agencies that it lacked sufficient money to pay full November benefits and instructed them to pause upcoming payments until further notice.
“USDA is taking steps to prepare for all contingencies,” the memo stated, “but no further SNAP benefits will be issued until an appropriation or funding authority is restored.”
Advocates Say USDA Has Options
Democratic lawmakers and food policy advocates are disputing the USDA’s interpretation of the law, arguing that the agency is both authorized and obligated to use its contingency fund to cover the next round of benefits. They estimate that continuing SNAP payments through November would cost about $8 billion — a gap they say could be covered through existing resources.
“Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump 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, in a statement Thursday. “In fact, the Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves — billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate — that remain available during the shutdown.”
Parrott, who previously served at the Office of Management and Budget, also pointed to past precedent, noting that the USDA has used flexible funding mechanisms during prior shutdowns to maintain essential programs.
Advocates are also pressing the department to explore other funding sources, as it did earlier this month for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. To prevent an interruption in that program, the administration shifted $300 million in tariff revenue earmarked for child nutrition programs to sustain WIC operations through the end of October.
Past Shutdowns Offer Lessons
This is not the first time SNAP has faced uncertainty during a government shutdown. During the record-long impasse from December 2018 to January 2019, the USDA initially warned that food stamp benefits could lapse at the end of January. The agency later invoked a legal provision allowing obligated payments within 30 days of a funding lapse, enabling February benefits to be issued. That measure ultimately proved unnecessary when the shutdown ended late that month.
But this time, experts say, the situation is more precarious. Without an active budget appropriation, the department has less flexibility, and the legal justification for continuing benefits beyond October is murkier.
“This isn’t just a bureaucratic issue — it’s about whether millions of children, seniors, and working families can eat,” said Ellen Vaughn, a former deputy administrator at the Food and Nutrition Service. “SNAP is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the U.S., and even a temporary lapse would have devastating effects.”
Human Impact Could Be Immediate
About one in eight Americans rely on SNAP to help purchase groceries, and experts warn that losing benefits even for a few weeks could drive families into crisis. Grocery stores and local economies that depend on SNAP spending could also feel the impact quickly. According to USDA data, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates roughly $1.50 in economic activity.
Community food banks, already strained by high demand and rising costs, say they cannot fill the gap. “We’re seeing more families in line every week,” said Carlos Mendez, director of the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. “If SNAP stops, it’s going to be catastrophic. We simply don’t have the capacity to replace that kind of support.”
Uncertain Path Forward
The USDA’s own contingency plan, which has since been taken offline, previously stated that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue” and suggested that the contingency fund could be used if a shutdown occurred mid-year. Critics say the department’s current stance contradicts that earlier guidance.
With both parties dug in, it remains unclear whether Congress will act before the end of the month. For millions of Americans, that uncertainty translates into anxiety over something as basic as the next meal.
As one Washington advocate put it: “Every day this shutdown continues, the question isn’t political anymore — it’s whether families can put food on the table.”