A blow for SNAP beneficiaries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ordered states to suspend the full distribution of SNAP food stamp benefits for November. In a directive issued Saturday and obtained by CNN, the USDA instructed states to distribute only 65% of November’s benefits. This translates to approximately $626. This situation is a consequence of the government shutdown.
About the SNAP benefits: “This was something that was not authorized”
The USDA not only announced the cut, but also stated it would “immediately reverse” any full payments already issued. “To the extent that states submitted full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was something that was not authorized,” wrote Patrick Penn, a senior USDA official, in the statement. The decision comes a day after a Supreme Court justice suspended a court order that required the agency to pay the full amount of assistance to beneficiaries.
This decision comes in accordance with the order issued by the same federal judge earlier this week. Specifically, for an eight-person household in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the benefit amount is $1,163 instead of $1,789, which is why large families are the most affected. According to Patrick Penn, “Consequently, states must immediately reverse any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits by November 2025,” referring to the payments that must be returned.
States that do not comply with the order could face the cancellation of their shared federal funding
The USDA informed states that the directive for full payments was “unauthorized” and ordered them to “immediately reverse” any measures taken to issue it, warning them of penalties for noncompliance. The document warns that states that do not comply with the order could face the cancellation of their shared federal funding for the program and be held financially responsible for the excess payments. Several states had already sent the money to families, especially considering the aforementioned situation regarding the potential consequences for families of not being able to access SNAP benefits. Meanwhile, states like Wisconsin and Kansas have indicated they will not reclaim the funds already deposited onto the cards, which could worsen the current situation for these states.
“If President Trump wants to punish states for preventing Americans from going hungry, we’ll see you in court”
This news has not been well received by either citizens or politicians, as everything has been confusing since Friday’s announcement. The measure came after the agency stated on Friday that it was working to fully fund food stamp benefits in accordance with the court order, and that the process would be completed that same day. For example, Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on Friday that residents who should have received their SNAP benefits this month would begin receiving their full payments that day. SNAP is not a fixed amount; it depends on household size, minus 30% of net income. This means that those who do not receive the maximum benefit experience a larger percentage reduction.
In short, this is no small matter; it’s a measure that directly and broadly impacts families. The new order leaves approximately one in eight Americans who rely on the nation’s largest food assistance program in limbo. The data is clear: the reduction for a three-person household is $275, which can be much greater than 35% if their usual benefit is below the maximum. As a result, governors are openly discussing their positions on the matter. “When we decided to step up and ensure our people would be okay… now we receive guidance saying that states will be penalized for advancing the money,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. What is clear is that the ruling means the USDA is not immediately obligated to comply with the order requiring it to transfer $4 billion to the food assistance program. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has lashed out at the US president: “If President Trump wants to punish states for preventing Americans from going hungry, we’ll see you in court.” We’ll keep you updated on further developments.
