The Trump administration is warning that millions of Americans are at risk of losing access to federal food assistance within days if Democrats refuse to agree to Republicans’ plan to end the government shutdown.
According to a memo obtained by Fox News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it cannot legally redirect funds on its own to continue the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. The memo states, “Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come November 1st.” It further cautions that the shutdown “jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those that have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed Federal employees who will not receive their combined October/November benefits.”
Democrats had pushed for the administration to tap into the SNAP contingency reserve, which they claim currently holds about $5 billion. But with SNAP costing between $8 billion and $9 billion each month, USDA officials argued that the reserve is not meant to be used in this scenario. The memo explains, “SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support [fiscal year 2026] regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.”
Instead, the department says those emergency funds are designated for unexpected crises such as natural disasters. “The contingency fund is a source of funds for contingencies, such as the Disaster SNAP program, which provides food purchasing benefits for individuals in disaster areas, including natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, that can come on quickly and without notice,” the memo says.
The USDA also rejected calls to shift money from other programs, warning that doing so would cause harm elsewhere. “Transfers from other sources would pull away funding for school meals and infant formula,” the department said. “This Administration will not allow Democrats to jeopardize funding for school meals and infant formula in order to prolong their shutdown.”
A statement posted to the USDA website underscored that Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked attempts to move forward with a short-term funding plan. The agency said, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
The USDA statement continued with sharp political language, saying the country was “approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats,” and argued they “can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
Democrats responded in a letter sent to the agency on Friday, insisting the contingency fund exists “precisely for this reason.” They wrote, “We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance,” while also calling for the department to use “any other legal authority at its disposal” to ensure full benefits go out.
At the heart of the standoff is a dispute over what a government funding bill should include. Democrats have said they will not pass a continuing resolution that does not also extend the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and are set to expire at the end of this year. Republicans passed a short-term funding bill in the House on Sept. 19, but it has stalled in the Senate as the shutdown drags on.