The U.S. Department of Agriculture informed a federal court that it will utilize its $4.6 billion contingency fund to provide partial November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during the government shutdown. The fund will cover roughly half of eligible households’ allotments, with full funding requiring about $9 billion.
Key Takeaways
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Partial coverage only: The USDA will issue reduced SNAP benefits this month using remaining contingency funds.
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Funds nearly depleted: The department plans to exhaust the $4.6 billion reserve, which covers about 50% of benefits.
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Millions affected: Over 42 million Americans depending on SNAP will face reduced food assistance amid the shutdown.
