By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPress of America
https://blackpressusa.com/
The Trump administration will send only partial payments this month to roughly 42 million Americans who receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The move offers only a temporary reprieve to low-income families as the government shutdown nears its sixth week, and millions brace for uncertainty.
The plan was disclosed on Monday in federal court filings after two judges found fault in the administration’s decision to halt SNAP funding. One judge, John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, ordered the administration to either make full payments by Monday or partial payments by Wednesday. He suggested that the government use tariff revenues or other accounts to ensure benefits are fully funded.
The Trump administration, however, opted against tapping additional reserves, signaling that only about half of the November benefits will be paid out. It also remains unclear when recipients might receive their aid, as the administration previously acknowledged that delays could occur while recalculating and issuing payments during the shutdown.
In Washington, D.C., the impact is particularly severe. About 85,000 District households, representing roughly 141,000 residents, rely on SNAP benefits each month. The average monthly benefit per household is $314. A 10% local enhancement was recently approved to help offset rising grocery prices.
With the federal government’s response uncertain, Mayor Muriel Bowser authorized the use of local contingency funds to ensure D.C. residents enrolled in SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program receive their November benefits without interruption.
“We know that SNAP and WIC play a critical role in helping thousands of Washingtonians, and millions of Americans, put food on the table each month,” Bowser said. “We were hopeful it wouldn’t come to this, and we still need the federal government to reopen as soon as possible, but for right now, we’re moving forward to ensure we take care of D.C. residents in November.”
The District estimates it will spend $29 million in local funds to cover November SNAP payments and another $1.5 million to support WIC benefits. The contingency fund, a locally financed reserve used for emergencies, will later be replenished in the city’s next budget cycle.
WIC currently supports more than 12,500 D.C. residents in 8,300 households, providing critical food items, infant formula, and nutritional education. SNAP and WIC programs also boost the city’s economy. Officials estimate that every dollar in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in local economic activity through grocery stores and small businesses.
The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has already disrupted key federal programs. While October SNAP benefits were distributed, millions of Americans across the country now face partial aid or delayed payments. In D.C., local action continues to keep families afloat.
“We are not waiting for others to decide the fate of our residents,” Bowser said. “Until the federal government does its job, we will continue to do ours and protect the people who call D.C. home.”
