The Department of Agriculture announced that it would use contingency funds to continue providing benefits to the almost 42 million people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), although this would only be 50% of the regular payments that users receive on their cards, amid growing concern.
Following Donald Trump's declaration that the administration will abide by a court order to give emergency assistance following prior denials on alleged legal grounds, the government made the statement in a court filing in the US district court in Rhode Island. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had requested for additional court advice on how to lawfully pay Snap prior to Monday's statement, implying that emergency funds could not be available right away.
After Judge John McConnell of the US district court in Rhode Island decided that the administration could not refuse the program funds due to the closure, the US president declared on Friday that he would be “honored” to grant emergency funding for the program.
“I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible … even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out,”
Trump posted on his Truth Social network on Friday.
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding.”
The next day, McConnell swiftly issued an order directing the government to begin making contingency money available by Monday noon.
In the past, the administration has maintained that it was illegal to use the contingency fund to pay out Snap benefits, claiming that it could only be utilized in situations like natural disasters. That stance was dismissed by the judge as "arbitrary."
“The court greatly appreciates the president’s quick and definitive response to this court’s order and his desire to provide the necessary Snap funding,”
McConnell wrote in Saturday’s order.
The program's benefits have paused in a way never seen before.
Funds could begin to flow by Wednesday, Bessent told CNN, adding that he requested additional court instructions on how money could be lawfully transferred to fulfill Snap compensation.
“There’s a process that has to be followed,”
Bessent said.
“So, we’ve got to figure out what the process is.”
How much will recipients receive under the partial SNAP payment?
Under the partial SNAP payment plan announced by the Trump administration, donors will admit about 50 of their usual food stamp benefits for November 2025. This means that if a ménage typically receives, for illustration, $350 per month, it would probably admit around $175 for November.
The administration is using roughly$ 4.65 billion from SNAP's contingency fund to cover these partial payments, which completely exhausts this emergency fund. Because of this, no fresh finances are available for new aspirants, disaster backing, or as a buffer if the arrestment continues.
The partial payments won't be immediate; processing and distribution could take up to two weeks or further depending on state systems and collaboration with merchandisers furnishing SNAP disbenefit card services.