Trump administration won't use contingency fund to pay November food stamp benefits

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Oct 24, 2025, 4:36 PM ET


The US Department of Agriculture says it will not tap into its $6 billion contingency fund to cover food stamp benefits next month, according to an agency memo obtained by CNN. That means that roughly 42 million Americans will not receive critical food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in November, unless the agency shifts its position.

“Contingency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits,” the memo reads. “SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.”

Also, states will not be reimbursed if they use their own funds to pay for benefits, according to the memo, which was reported earlier by Axios.

The loss of the critical safety net program ramps up pressure on Congress to end the federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, by agreeing to a federal spending package. Democrats have said they will not support a short-term spending bill unless it includes an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/politics/usda-contingency-fund-november-snap

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But they'll illegally take a $130 million "donation" to pay the military.

As a note that I keep repeating - SNAP is under the FARM BILL, a 5-year appropriation that the GOP keeps punting year after year on C.R.s (we're still using what is basically an extended 2018 one that became a 2023 one extended through to this past Sept. 30 with the March C.R.).