The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced it will decrease food assistance for over 42 million Americans, as this week’s government shutdown approaches the record for the longest duration without a solution in sight.
According to a court document filed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), those receiving food aid will receive only half of their usual monthly distribution after the government tapped into emergency funds.
Judges mandated that the Trump administration submit a strategy by Monday on how it will administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps.
The funding for this program has been uncertain owing to the prolonged shutdown which has exceeded a month.
Although states manage the distribution of benefits, the program is dependent on federal funding, which has been unavailable since October 1.
States are expected to gain understanding of how to allocate the diminished funds by the end of Monday.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island determined that the USDA must utilize $5.25bn (£4bn) from emergency funds to make at least partial distributions to Snap recipients.
The Snap program incurs costs of approximately $8bn each month.
Both judges stated that the Trump administration could tap into contingency funds to disburse the benefits.
Previously, President Trump indicated he had directed government attorneys to inquire with the courts on how the administration could lawfully finance Snap, mentioning: “Even with immediate guidance, it will regretfully be postponed.”
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned in a CNN interview that the president was looking for court advice on the legal maneuvers needed to finance Snap payments, but they could potentially be released by Wednesday.
“There’s a procedure that must be adhered to,” Bessent stated. “Thus, we need to ascertain what that procedure entails.”
At the end of last month, the USDA announced that it would halt the distribution of food assistance funds starting November 1 due to the shutdown, stating: “The resources have been exhausted.”
Half of the states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the administration concerning the food aid suspension, asserting that they had a legal duty to maintain the program in their areas.
In a separate action, cities and non-profit organizations also brought a lawsuit. Some states indicated they would allocate their own funds to support Snap benefits.
Snap enables many Americans with low incomes to purchase groceries. It offers them reloadable debit cards that can be utilized for food purchases.
On average, a family of four receives $715 each month, which equates to just under $6 per day for each person.
