Trump, A new directive from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ordered states to stop paying full food aid benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The department’s memo stated that states are now authorized to deliver only 65% of the usual assistance, following a Supreme Court decision that allows the administration to withhold a portion of the program’s funding until further legal hearings are completed. The move comes as more than 42 million Americans, many of whom depend on food aid to meet daily nutritional needs, begin receiving partial SNAP benefits this month. The ongoing federal government shutdown has left the program in financial uncertainty, forcing households across the nation to cope with reduced support.
Trump Administration Food Aid Cuts Leave Millions with Partial SNAP Benefits
Before the latest ruling, several states had been using emergency funds from their own budgets to cover the gap and ensure families continued receiving full payments. However, the USDA’s memo instructed that these efforts must be reversed immediately. According to the department, “States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025,” signaling a strict enforcement of the new funding limits. The order marks the latest escalation in a prolonged budget conflict that has disrupted the delivery of food assistance to millions of low-income families. SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps, is one of the largest social welfare programs in the country, supporting roughly one in eight Americans at an estimated cost of about 9 billion dollars each month.
The legal battle surrounding SNAP payments began when the USDA initially announced that funding for the program would be halted in November due to the shutdown. A lower federal court intervened and ruled that the full benefits must continue to be paid to recipients despite the lapse in federal funding. However, the White House appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that maintaining full benefit payments would exceed the administration’s legal spending authority during the shutdown. On Friday, the Supreme Court sided temporarily with the Trump administration, issuing an emergency order that permits the withholding of approximately 4 billion dollars in funding until a final decision is made. This ruling has effectively reduced the financial flow to state agencies that distribute SNAP benefits, leaving millions of households uncertain about their next food assistance payment.
Critics of the decision say it unfairly punishes vulnerable families who depend on federal nutrition programs during a time of crisis. Advocacy groups warn that the cuts will increase hunger, strain food banks, and place greater pressure on community resources. Supporters of the administration argue that the decision is a necessary step to ensure compliance with federal spending laws during the ongoing budget impasse. As the government shutdown continues, the future of the SNAP program remains uncertain. For millions of Americans who rely on food assistance, the Trump administration food aid policy has become a defining symbol of the broader struggle between fiscal control and human need.
source:BBC
