SNAP Benefits Were Disrupted: Here’s What’s Happening and What You Can Do

By Katharine Stecher and Taylor Walden, students in the Food Law and Policy Clinic.

Note: This blog was posted before the First Circuit decision and subsequent Supreme Court order on November 7th. On November 12th, Congress resolved the federal government shutdown and funded SNAP until September 30, 2026, A separate blog post outlining the whole timeline and details is forthcoming.

As of November 1st, nearly 42 million people lost access to a significant portion of their monthly grocery budget provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program, requiring roughly $8 billion in federal funding each month to operate. Unlike many other entitlement programs, SNAP is an appropriated entitlement; it receives funding each year from Congress through annual appropriations. To guard against disruptions, like the current federal government shutdown, Congress has historically authorized contingency funds to continue program operations. In FY24, Congress appropriated $3 billion for this contingency reserve to remain available for two years.

On September 30th, in preparation for the potential federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) noted in its Lapse of Funding Plan that contingency funds were available to continue funding SNAP. On October 25th, however, the USDA shifted its position and chose not to use the Congressionally authorized reserve funds in November, breaking from how the agency handled previous funding gaps. The USDA’s memo stated that contingency funds “are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits.” The agency argued that because no appropriations currently exist for FY 2026, the reserve cannot be used to continue monthly SNAP disbursement. because no appropriations currently exist for FY 2026, the reserve cannot be used to continue monthly SNAP disbursements.

In response, on October 28th, twenty-five states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the USDA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, arguing that the Department is legally obligated to distribute SNAP benefits despite the lapse and that the agency lacks the discretion to stop funding SNAP absent a complete lack of reserves.

Separately, a second lawsuit was filed on October 30th in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, several SNAP households, and community organizations. The plaintiffs argued that USDA’s decision to halt benefits exceeds the agency’s statutory authority under the Food and Nutrition Act and will cause immediate and irreparable harm to households who rely on SNAP to meet basic food needs. In response, the court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) directing USDA to continue issuing SNAP benefits for November. In response to the TRO, USDA submitted a sworn declaration outlining how much remained in the SNAP contingency reserve and the benefit levels the agency believed it could sustain absent new appropriations.  In a revised declaration filed on November 4th, USDA estimated that the remaining funds would allow for roughly 65% of normal benefits to be distributed.

On November 6th, Judge McConnell issued an oral order in the Rhode Island case requiring USDA to pay full November SNAP benefits by November 7th. The Department of Justice appealed the order and filed an emergency motion for stay. The Plaintiffs in the case responded in opposition on November 7. The question of whether full benefits will continue now rests with the First Circuit. In the meantime, USDA issued guidance for state agencies that indicated the USDA would issue full benefits in compliance with the November 6th order from Judge McConnell. The issue is evolving, and it remains unclear when SNAP beneficiaries should receive their benefits (and how much they will receive). The Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Impact fund has also filed a class action lawsuit in federal district court in California on behalf of all SNAP recipients.

Outside of the courtroom and Capitol Hill, this standoff has left the nearly 1 in 8 Americans who qualify without their expected benefits for November, ahead of the holiday season. Food banks and food recovery organizations are bracing to absorb the consequences. These nonprofits, already stretched thin by inflation and post-pandemic demand, are not designed to replace SNAP, only to supplement it. Yet they will now bear a significant proportion of the burden of keeping vulnerable families fed as the government’s safety net frays.

Three Ways to Help Right Now

1. Support local food recovery organizations.

SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger. Food banks are a supplement, not a substitute. Monetary donations go the furthest, as every dollar helps food banks buy in bulk and meet real-time needs. If you can’t give money, give time. Local food pantries urgently need volunteers to sort food, deliver boxes, and assist with intake as demand spikes. If you’re unsure where to start, reach out. Local pantries know exactly what their communities need most, and they can guide you on how to make the greatest impact.

To find your local food bank, use Feeding America’s search tool on their website here.

2. Contact your state leaders.

One path to restoring SNAP benefits runs through state leadership. Legal action is an option, but states can also take direct steps to keep benefits flowing. Some states are using state dollars or available reserves to issue partial or phased SNAP benefits. Others are drawing on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support eligible families with children. Several states are issuing benefits weekly or in portions throughout the month while monitoring whether federal funds resume. The more states that act using these tools, the clearer the signal to federal decision-makers. If your state has not acted yet, now is the moment to ask.

Actions states have taken:

• Delaware: Issuing weekly SNAP allotments throughout November.
• Guam: Funding November benefits as of Nov. 1.
• Hawaii: Using TANF funds to provide partial SNAP support for families with children who meet eligibility requirements.
• Maryland: Covering the gap between remaining federal funds and full household benefit amounts.
• New Mexico: Advancing 10days of SNAP benefits using state dollars.
• Ohio: Using TANF funds to issue weekly partial benefits to eligible households.
• Rhode Island: Using TANF funds to provide partial SNAP support for families with children who meet eligibility requirements.
• U.S. Virgin Islands: Issuing checks for half of monthly SNAP benefit amounts.
• Vermont: Issuing 50% of benefits between Nov. 5-7, with reassessment mid-month if federal funds remain unavailable.
• Virginia: Issuing 25% of monthly benefits weekly, contingent on remaining federal funds.
• Washington, D.C.: Issuing full November SNAP benefits for the entire caseload.

These actions show that states have tools to help fill the gaps in SNAP funding and that pressure and coordination at the state level matters. Even partial action can reduce hunger immediately.

A. Contact your State Legislators

Ask your state representatives to publicly support restoring SNAP benefits and to encourage both the Governor and Attorney General to join or file a lawsuit.

You can find contact information for your state and local representatives on USA.gov.

B. Contact your Attorney General (AG)

If you live in one of the twenty-five states or D.C. currently participating in the SNAP litigation, take a moment to thank your AG (or Governor) representing your state in the litigation. If your state has not joined or filed a lawsuit, urge them to do so.

You can:

• Call the constituent services or public inquiry line (usually listed under “Contact Us” on the AG’s official website)
• Send a short email or message expressing your support for the state joining the litigation
• Tag your state AG on social media or reply to publicly encourage action

Full list of states currently participating: Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

C. Contact your Governor

Governors can direct state agencies to coordinate with the Attorney General and support joining the lawsuit. Highlight the immediate impact on families in your state.

You can:

• Call the Governor’s office constituent line (usually listed under “Contact the Governor” or “Constituent Services” on your state’s official website)
• Send a message via the Governor’s contact form on your state’s official website
• Tag or reply to official social media posts urging action
• (If accessible) Attend a public town hall or press event and ask a short, respectful question about protecting SNAP benefits

3. Contact your members of Congress. Congress ultimately controls whether SNAP is funded. Call or email your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to pass a funding resolution that restores SNAP immediately. You can reach any member of Congress through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected directly to their office.

This moment exposes how fragile the systems we rely on for basic needs can be and how strong communities become when they fill the gap. Until Congress restores funding, the responsibility falls on all of us: to donate if we can, to speak up when it matters, and to remind our leaders that hunger is a policy choice.