The Trump administration says it will restart the national food aid program known as SNAP using money from a Department of Agriculture contingency fund but will only pay out half the amount participants would normally receive.
In a court filing, officials said depleting that fund means “no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely.”
Starting Nov. 1, SNAP benefits did not hit accounts as expected after the USDA, which administers SNAP, froze funding, citing the federal government shutdown. The shutdown is now in its 35th day.
It is unclear when low-income families who depend on SNAP will receive these partial funds. The Trump administration said it anticipates long delays — “anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months” — before benefits arrive in the hands of registered SNAP recipients.
Last week, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funding to provide SNAP benefits for the 42 million people who rely on the program to feed their families. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled the Trump administration has until Monday to decide whether to pay at least partial SNAP food benefits but did not issue a temporary restraining order. In Rhode Island, U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. granted a temporary restraining order and said the Trump administration must submit a plan on how it would comply with his order, or “at least an update,” by noon on Monday, Ocean State Media reported. Both judges were appointed by former President Barack Obama.
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SNAP, the country’s largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids and people with disabilities.
Food banks are stretched thin
In the few days since SNAP funding elapsed, food banks across the country have experienced a surge of people in need of their services, leading to long lines and widespread worries about how they will meet the escalating demand in the coming weeks. Some food bank administrators warn that it may soon amount to a public health crisis.
Small grocery stores, local farmers, and other retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits are also bracing for changes as many of their usual customers are without the means to pay for food this month.
Some local communities have set up informal systems to support their neighbors in need of food assistance. In several cities, food banks have collaborated with government officials to connect residents with food resources. Others put out calls for volunteers to support their work.
While many food banks have previously dealt with difficult situations like natural disasters that strained their operations, the scale of this nationwide shutdown represents an unprecedented national food crisis. Senior citizens may be disproportionately impacted.
— Anusha Mathur, NPR
Read more: ‘The helpers need help’. Food banks brace for impact as SNAP cliff looms
Reporters from the NPR Network are covering the uncertainty and lapse in benefits in states across the country.
Here’s what we know so far.
State-specific impacts:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
For more on alternative free resources in the San Francisco Bay Area, head to KQED.
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Colorado
For more resources in Colorado, head to Colorado Public Radio or Denverite.
Connecticut
For more on alternative free resources in Connecticut and how you can help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, head to Connecticut Public Radio.
Delaware
For more on alternative free resources in Delaware and how you can help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, head to WHYY.
District of Columbia
Florida
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
For more resources in Hawaii, head to Hawai’i Public Radio.
Idaho
Illinois
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
For more alternative resources in Maryland, head to WYPR.
Massachusetts
Michigan
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Minnesota
For more on food assistance resources in Minnesota, head to MPR News.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
For more on alternative free resources in New Hampshire, head to NHPR.
New Jersey
For more on alternative free resources in the Camden County area and how you can help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, head to WHYY.
New Mexico
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
New York
North Carolina
For free alternative resources in the Charlotte area, head to WFAE.
Northern Mariana Islands
North Dakota
Ohio
For more on alternative free resources in the Dayton region and how you can help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, head to WYSO.
Oklahoma
For more on how Oklahoma tribal nations are preparing to fill the gap, head to KOSU.
Oregon
Pennsylvania
For more on alternative free resources in the Philadelphia region and how you can help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, head to WHYY. For more on alternative resources in the Greater Pittsburgh area, head to WESA.
Puerto Rico
Are you worried about your SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
For more on alternative resources in Central Virginia, head to VPM. For resources in the Norfolk area, head to WHRO.
Virgin Islands
Washington
For more alternative resources in the Puget Sound area, head to KUOW.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
For more on alternative resources in the Milwaukee area, head to WUWM.
Wyoming
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NPR’s Anusha Mathur, Jaclyn Diaz, Padma Rama, Carol Ritchie, Emily Alfin Johnson, Kristian Monroe, Luis Clemens and Jennifer Ludden edited this piece.
Source: www.npr.org