As we navigate the aftermath of the recent government shutdown, it’s crucial to understand the implications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Headlines have hinted at the administration’s plans, suggesting benefits would resume quickly. However, there are complexities that warrant attention.
According to an article by Politico, “Trump admin will pay full SNAP benefits ‘within 24 hours’ after shutdown ends.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed agencies to implement new regulations during the shutdown stemming from Trump’s recent legislation. These changes include stringent work requirements that may strip away food assistance from around 5-6 million individuals, including veterans, the homeless, and legal immigrants. This rollout, expedited ahead of schedule, complicates the ability of states to manage compliance and funding effectively. New York Focus has underscored these challenges:
The shutdown has also frozen funding for numerous public benefit programs, creating logistical challenges for social service departments that have long faced staffing shortages, brain drain, and application backlogs.
Counties had prepared for the rules to take effect in the spring but were caught off guard in early October when the Trump administration suddenly announced the accelerated timeline.
In Erie County, home to Buffalo, an estimated 10,000 residents could be affected by the new rules. County officials are reaching out to these individuals, organizing in-person group orientations and follow-up compliance meetings while dispatching required notifications through mass mailings.
Thus, the promise of full SNAP benefits from the Trump administration following the shutdown is questionable. If delivered, such support may not last long.
By Raymond Fernández, who covers New York City and housing for NOTUS. Originally published at The City.
With the government shutdown concluded and funding for SNAP secured through September 2026, millions of Americans are set to receive regular food assistance again. However, the pressure on this vital anti-hunger program is far from alleviated, as states will bear more responsibility moving forward.
The reconciliation package—passed by Republicans last summer—initiates significant changes to SNAP, including expanded work requirements, tighter eligibility for specific immigrant categories, and shifting most administrative costs to states (forcing states to shoulder the burden).
Nicolette Simmonds, a spokesperson for New York Governor Kathy Hochul, remarked, “The changes and cuts to SNAP, approved by the Republican Congress and signed by President Trump, will undermine the program’s foundation and significantly increase state and local costs. They will also reduce benefits to SNAP households, making it even more difficult for New Yorkers to purchase essential food at a time when food prices are up, and household budgets are already strained.”
In anticipation of these changes, states are organizing responses. For instance, in Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey established a statewide Anti-Hunger Task Force to coordinate efforts and leverage state resources against the impending federal cuts.
“These changes will cause some people to lose all their benefits and others to lose part of their benefits. States will face additional administrative costs and potential costs for the benefits provided, marking the first time this has been required,” Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center, told NOTUS.
Some of these regulations are already being put into effect. The USDA, which did not respond to requests for comment, indicated that operational capacity for SNAP was limited during the shutdown; however, it still required agencies to enforce new rules in adherence to the reconciliation package.
Effective October 31, the USDA provided a memo stating that certain alien groups previously eligible for SNAP would no longer qualify (this rule is part of the reconciliation effort). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that around 90,000 individuals may lose SNAP benefits monthly due to this change.
In addition, work requirements have been expanded to encompass all able-bodied adults without dependents, with most adults under 64 now needing to provide documentation proving they either work, volunteer, or participate in a training program for at least 80 hours a month. These mandates will also affect veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and former foster youths.
Rep. Yvette Clarke, a Democrat from New York, described the changes as “horrendous.”
“Late applications or incomplete submissions will mean families go without necessary support,” she said, emphasizing the financial strain this will cause for states and municipalities.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 5 to 6 million individuals may see reductions in their SNAP benefits due to the expanded work requirements.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, the state with the highest reliance on SNAP, expressed concerns, stating, “They’re relying on people making mistakes on their applications. We need to ensure people receive assistance to meet the requirements.”
In New Mexico, officials noted that approximately 55,750 residents will now be subject to the new regulations, with an estimated 20,000 individuals potentially losing benefits entirely by April 2026 if they fail to comply.
New Mexico officials requested a federal waiver to exempt able-bodied individuals from demonstrating employment in areas with high unemployment; the waiver was granted but will expire at the end of the year.
The struggle over SNAP funding during the shutdown has raised concerns about the future management of the program.
“This administration’s actions over the past two and a half months have demonstrated a willingness to engage in confusing and potentially unlawful practices, including withholding funding,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury expressed to NOTUS. “I lack confidence in their ability to manage the program, and we will be monitoring it closely.”
The USDA has instructed states to implement the expanded work requirements starting in November, raising uncertainties about how various state agencies can execute these demands.
Furthermore, the reconciliation bill reduces funding allocated to states for administering the program. USDA guidance indicates that this provision will diminish USDA payments to state agencies for administrative costs from 50% to 25% starting in fiscal year 2027.
These transformations aim to cut SNAP spending by at least $187 billion by 2034, set in motion by the reconciliation package.
“It is fundamentally contradictory to impose more complex eligibility requirements while simultaneously cutting resources needed for enforcement,” stated Kyle Ross, a policy analyst at the Center for American Progress.
NOTUS contacted 13 agencies heavily reliant on SNAP across the nation to gauge their strategies for adopting the new requirements and informing recipients of changes to their benefits. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was the only agency to reply, with a spokesperson remarking, “The uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits is unfair to the one million residents of Michigan who depend on these resources for their families.”
