The Trump administration says states must “immediately undo” any steps taken to send full SNAP benefits in November.
The demand, issued by the US Department of Agriculture in a late-night Saturday memo, has further complicated the situation surrounding the hunger relief program, which has now become a central bargaining chip in the ongoing political standoff over the government shutdown.
The US Department of Agriculture distributed the memo to regional SNAP directors, saying states that began sending full payments this month weren’t authorized to do so.
“Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025,” the memo said. “Please advise the appropriate FNS Regional Office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum.”
The memo said states that fail to comply could face repercussions, “including cancellation of the Federal share of State administrative costs and holding States liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.”
Some 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program helps individuals purchase groceries to feed themselves and their loved ones.
The government shutdown, which began on October 1, is now the longest in US history. Now at Day 40, it has caused all manner of disruption to American lives.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or forced to work without pay. Many air traffic controllers, who are paid through the Federal Aviation Administration using federal funds and have now gone over a month without a paycheck, are increasingly not showing up for work, prompting the FAA to ground thousands of flights ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
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The fight over funding SNAP benefits, meanwhile, remains mired in legal limbo.
Although the USDA had planned to pause benefits starting on November 1, a Rhode Island court ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to keep providing them. A November 3 court filing said the USDA “is complying with the Court’s order and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds.”
Trump wrote in a November 4 Truth Social post that, despite the ruling, his administration would still withhold SNAP benefits until the government shutdown is resolved.
The Trump administration then appealed the lower court ruling, but no updated action has yet been taken. The Supreme Court stepped in to temporarily halt the Rhode Island order until legal proceedings can continue, allowing the Trump administration to avoid issuing November’s SNAP benefits.