Cheeto will give up the money soon
President Trump indicated he would release emergency funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) following court rulings that found the administration had illegally withheld available funds. On Friday, October 31, 2025, Trump stated on Truth Social, “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay”. This came after two federal judges—one in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts—ordered the Trump administration to release billions in contingency funds to ensure SNAP benefits continued during the government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ordered $5.25 billion be released, emphasizing that SNAP benefits had never before been terminated. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the administration must continue funding SNAP using available contingency funds. Despite these rulings, the administration initially claimed it lacked legal authority to disburse the funds, prompting Trump to instruct his lawyers to seek clarification from the courts.
The USDA had previously acknowledged that without action, there would be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits. Over 40 million Americans, including about 16 million children, 8 million older adults, and 4 million people with disabilities, rely on SNAP for food assistance. While the administration had reserved the $5 billion contingency fund for natural disasters, courts determined it must be used to sustain SNAP during the funding lapse.
As of November 1, 2025, the administration was expected to comply with the judicial orders, though delays in distribution were anticipated even with immediate guidance. States like California and New York took emergency actions, with Governor Kathy Hochul declaring a state of emergency to address the threat to nearly 3 million New Yorkers who depend on SNAP.
