2025 SNAP Shutdown

Background

In 2025, following the lead of the newly reelected Trump administration, the House of Representatives moved for a new budget resolution that cuts funding to an array of social programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.^[1] Passed in a resolution of 217 to 215, the cuts are part of an effort to allow a $4.5 Trillion tax cut.^[1] Nonprofits such as No Kid Hungry have taken to social media using the hashtag #protectSNAP to raise awareness about the potential cuts.^[2]

SNAP is authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.^[3] This law, formerly the Food Stamp Act of 1977, since 1973 been periodically reauthorized under the aegis the omnibus farm bill; and the program was last so reauthorized by the 2018 farm bill.^[3] For programs with mandatory spending authorized but not appropriated by the farm bill—such as SNAP—an appropriations act or continuing resolution could allow operations to continue.^[4] Numerous farm bill provisions expired in 2023 which were extended in this manner through September 30, 2025.^[3][5] In the event of farm bill expiration, SNAP operations had heretofore been continued with the provision of appropriations.^[3]

November 2025 Shutdown

In October 2025, it was announced that November's SNAP payments would not be disbursed as a consequence of the 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown, affecting 42 million Americans.^[6] However, two federal judges—Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island and Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts—^[7] ruled on October 31, 2025, that the Trump Administration must fund food stamps during November.^[8]

As of Saturday, November 1, however, even as new restrictions had been promulgated^[9] (part and parcel of the Big Beautiful Bill),^[10] funding was still not forthcoming, and the situation remained confused.^[9]

Presentation were to both judges (in response to their orders to details the procedures to be enacted) by attorneys from the Trump administration by Noon^[11] (EST) Monday, November 3.^[12][13] Judge John McConnell heard from Patrick Penn, who oversees the SNAP program at the Department of Agriculture, that there were be "procedural difficulties" which would take some states taking weeks or even months to overcome. The upshot was that SNAP would be partially emergency funded through November by 50%,^[14] with food banks expecting an increase in patronage for the first week and grocery stores a decrease.^[7]

See also

• Big Beautiful Bill
• 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown

See also