Trump Administration Directs States to Halt Full SNAP Benefits Amid Shutdown

The Trump administration has directed states to "immediately undo" any actions taken to provide full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to low-income families, attributing the decision to the ongoing government shutdown. In a late-night memo, the Agriculture Department warned of potential financial penalties for states that fail to comply promptly.

This directive has introduced further uncertainty for the approximately 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. Some states, including New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, had begun disbursing full benefits following a federal judge's order to fully fund the program amid the shutdown. However, the Supreme Court temporarily paused this order, leaving the program's status in legal limbo.

The Agriculture Department's memo specifies that states must not send files to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) processors that would enable full benefits. Instead, states are instructed to issue only partial benefits, resulting in significant reductions for recipients. Patrick A. Penn, a senior official at the department, stated, "To the extent states sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, states must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025."

Legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of retracting already issued benefits without due process. David A. Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, noted that while the government may halt ongoing processes, it would not be legal to reclaim benefits already provided without affording recipients due process.

The Agriculture Department has also indicated that states failing to comply with the new directive could lose access to federal funds for managing the SNAP program and may be held liable for any unauthorized full benefits issued.

The situation remains fluid as states assess the implications of the federal directive and await further legal developments.