Tens of millions of Americans receiving food assistance are at risk of losing those benefits as the government shutdown creeps into its second month. But Friday brought a potential lifeline: A federal court ruling ordered the Trump administration to release emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On Friday, Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled that the Trump administration must release funds from the $5.5 billion SNAP emergency fund and other potential vessels to keep the program going. An emergency fund is to be tapped in case of an emergency.
The White House recently claimed that the emergency fund cannot be used to fund regular SNAP benefits. McConnell sided with a coalition of cities and nonprofits that sued the federal government over potential malpractice. In his ruling, McConnell said there is “no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will continue.”
Also on Friday, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Judge Indra Talwani ordered the Trump administration to indicate by Monday whether it will provide SNAP benefits in November. Talwani was brought up in the case by two dozen states and the District of Columbia that sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleging that the department was violating federal spending laws by not releasing Snap emergency funds. “Congress has put money into an emergency fund, and it’s hard for me to understand that this is not an emergency,” Talwani said during a hearing on the case on Thursday.
During the 2018-2019 shutdown—under the first Trump administration—the USDA told states they could use emergency funds to release February 2019 benefits early.
Even with McConnell’s order, the administrative process of allocating funds to EBT cards will delay the distribution of SNAP benefits. And if the administration doesn’t find money from pools outside the emergency fund, the end of the month could still pass: Snap needs $9.2 billion in financing to pay benefits through the entirety of November. Experts say the administration may transfer money from other funds to continue paying at the end of the month.
What happens when SNAP funds run out?
When the emergency funds run out, millions of Americans will no longer receive food assistance from the federal government — and that will continue to be the case until the government shutdown ends. This will mark the first time in the program’s history Snap Benefits are delayed for all participants.
There will be immediate effects on people and long-lasting ripple effects on the economy from the benefit lag:
Millions of households that already cannot afford food will lose access to federal food assistance. If the shutdown continues long enough, about 41.7 million people will be without Snap. According to the USDA, this is about 12.3% of the US population.
Food banks, which were under pressure before the closure, will have more difficulty meeting demand, especially in areas with high numbers of federal workers and SNAP recipients.
Without SNAP, grocery stores and other retailers that accept SNAP through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) payments would suffer, resulting in lower sales and less economic activity.
When the shutdown ends and snap benefits are restored, a sudden surge in demand could put more pressure on the supply chain and potentially push up food prices.
“Families should never have to wonder if they’re going to be able to buy groceries because of politics,” says Gina Plata-Nano, interim SNAP director of the nonprofit Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
How much does Snap provide?
According to USDA data for fiscal year 2024, the typical SNAP participant receives about $187.20 a month. The amount received each month varies depending on income level and other factors.
Most SNAP benefits go to the poorest households:
86% of benefits go to households with monthly income at or below the poverty level
51% of benefits go to individuals with gross monthly income at 50% of the poverty level
27% of households have a monthly income above the poverty level, but receive only 14% of total SNAP dollars.
“SNAP isn’t just about putting food on the table. It’s an economic stabilizer, it’s a poverty alleviation tool,” Plata Nino says.
Not only does SNAP help families overcome the stress of food insecurity, it also has local and broader economic benefits. According to a 2019 USDA study, every new dollar in SNAP benefits accounts for up to 1.80% of economic growth.
“When SNAP is disrupted, it ripples through entire communities,” Plata-Nino says. “It’s not just the families who lose food — it’s the small grocers, farmers and local economies that depend on those dollars.”
Who gets the snap – and stands to lose it?
If you were to write down the most statistically typical Snap recipient, it would be a white kid from a low-income family living in a rural area.
SNAP does not target specific groups, as child nutrition programs or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits do. This program serves people of all races, ages and regions. This includes the elderly, disabled and carers. What all the beneficiaries have in common is their income – almost all are living below the poverty line.
“People are working incredibly hard just to survive,” Plata Nino says.
According to USDA data, a breakdown of SNAP program participant demographics is:
The majority is white: By race, 35.4% of SNAP participants are white. 25.7% are African American. 15.6% are Hispanic. 3.9% are Asian. 1.3% are Native American. 1% reported multiple races, while 17% were of unknown race.
Most Working Age recipients are working: Twenty-eight percent of households earned an average of $1,548 per month from work. “SNAP helps bridge the gap between what people earn and what it actually costs to live,” says Plata-Nino. “It’s what allows parents to keep food in the fridge while paying the rent.”
Children have the greatest share of age: One in three (39%) of SNAP participants are children.
Participation rate is highest in rural areas. According to an analysis by the Food Research and Action Center, rural areas have higher rates of poverty and food insecurity than other areas. Most total recipients live in cities — because most people live in cities — but proportionally, SNAP recipients are more likely to live in rural areas.
One in five are older adults. About 20% of SNAP participants are considered “elderly.” What’s fundamentally different about older adults getting SNAP, as opposed to younger people, says Jessica Johnston, senior director of the Center for Economic Well-Being at the National Council on Aging.
“For older adults, their circumstances are much less likely to change and thus receive a SNAP benefit, even in the amount of $50 to $100 per month that is a large portion of their monthly fixed income,” Johnston says. He adds that for most older adults, working more to fill the gap is not a realistic expectation.
One in 10 is unnecessary with a disability. About 10% of SNAP participants have a disability and are not elderly.
The vast majority are US citizens: 89% of SNAP participants are US-born citizens, 6.2% are naturalized citizens. While 1.1% are migrants and 3.3% are non-citizens.
“The program is being used by Americans,” Plata Nino says. “It’s children, older adults, and people with disabilities — the people who need it the most.”
Food banks still face challenges
Even before the government shutdown, there are 50 million people who turn to the charitable food system to fill that gap in their food budget, says Amy McReynolds, chief advocacy and community partnership officer, and interim chief government relations officer for Feeding America, a nonprofit network of 200 food banks.
Food banks have seen a sharp increase in demand since the pandemic, as more and more families face food insecurity. In 2025, SNAP and funding programs for other food assistance have taken hit after hit. Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut more than $1 billion in funding to programs that provide food to both food banks and schools, part of an overall effort to rein in the cost of social programs.
Then, after a big, fancy bill passed in July, new work requirements have made SNAP harder to access, forcing more people to turn to food banks. Since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, food bank demand has also increased in areas with high populations of federal workers who have never had to turn to food banks before.
“We often talk about every single meal that the Feeding American Network provides, SnapNo provides,” McReynolds says. “We may not be able to fill the gap, but we will continue to do our best to help our neighbors.”
Emergency food is exactly that — something to be used to fill a gap in an emergency, said Jerome Nathaniel, director of policy and government relations at City Harvest, a large food rescue organization that distributes free food in New York City.
“We want to help families whose SNAP benefits may not last a full month, which is often the case, or families who may not qualify, but we certainly don’t design or expect to meet the scale and scope that SNAP provides,” Nathaniel says.
What can you do to help?
Ultimately, the safety and security of SNAP recipients rests in the hands of lawmakers. Benefits will be restored when the shutdown ends. Both Nathaniel and McReynolds say advocacy is critical.
“Making sure you’re contacting your member of Congress and telling them the impact of these cuts, what you’re seeing in your community, how it’s affecting your family — that’s really the most powerful thing,” Nathaniel says.
“Food aid is not a bargaining chip,” McReynolds says. “We’re asking everyone to reach out to their members of Congress. We need to shut down the government and we need to make sure that people who rely on WIC and rely on SNAP are able to see these programs funded because they are a lifeline for so many people.”
In the meantime, if you’re able, you can donate money, food and time to local food banks. Search through your local food bank Feeding America Networkfor , for , for , for , . A hunger-free America or by dialing or texting 211 through United Way. Smaller pantries, community fridges, mobile food banks, and other food distribution programs may also be available in your area.
(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images News via Getty Images)
