What many expected has come to pass in the United States: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be paid out in November. This announcement comes according to information published by POLITICO, after Trump announced that emergency funds would not be used to cover this situation, claiming that they are not legally available, according to the Associated Press. The federal government shutdown, which has been in effect since October 1, has gone through 12 votes to reopen, all of which have failed. One of the main issues under debate is the Democrats’ concern about cuts to Medicaid.
This situation means that the nearly 42 million people who receive SNAP benefits each month in all 50 states will be left without food benefits and, therefore, without resources. For this reason, some states have tried to take charge or offer an alternative solution. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website announced that it would not be possible to pay the monthly payments for November. However, Maura Healey, the governor of Massachusetts, has encouraged residents to donate to food banks in order to help those affected by the delays in income. In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that he would take money from the surplus to finance November’s funds.
These alternative measures, in which the funds come from the states themselves, will not be reimbursed by the federal government, according to Trump. In addition to this aid to the poor and social assistance being at least temporarily paralyzed, November was also the month in which new SNAP program measures came into effect as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), eliminating benefits for millions of recipients.
Federal government shutdown
The Senate has made 12 attempts to vote on reopening the federal government, but without success. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced on its website that there will be no benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients on November 1. “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times not to fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” This announcement preceded the announcement issued by the Trump administration, informing the public that the approximately $5 billion in emergency funds would not be used to pay for food benefits, as reported by POLITICO.
The stalemate over reopening the government, which has been shut down since October 1, 2025, stems from Republicans supporting a bill to keep the government funded until November 21, but Democrats blocking it due to concerns over medical tensions, such as numerous cuts to Medicaid. According to the USDA website, “Due to the shutdown by the Radical Left Democratic Party, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear that he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, supply, and clothe the American people”.
Temporary solutions
Although Trump has made it clear that he wants to keep the government open to feed, clothe, and provide for the American people, offering decent health coverage does not seem to be part of his plans. This situation is leaving 42 million people who receive SNAP benefits each month in all 50 states without any assistance, denying them access to food benefits and putting their food security at risk. Faced with this situation, some states, such as Pennsylvania, have already warned residents that they will not be able to cover SNAP benefits for the month of November.
“Because Republicans in Washington, D.C., failed to pass a federal budget, causing the federal government to shut down, SNAP benefits cannot be paid in November 2025,” the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website stated. The situation is different in other states, such as Massachusetts, where Governor Maura Haley has encouraged residents to donate to food banks in order to meet the needs of those affected.
On the other hand, in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that he will use money from the state surplus to fund SNAP benefits for the month of November. For its part, the Trump administration will not only fail to cover November’s income, but has also announced that it will not reimburse states that are temporarily covering these costs.
Changes to SNAP in November
November was the month when the new SNAP measures derived from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act were to take effect, imposing limits on work requirements and eliminating benefits for millions of recipients. From now on, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAW) will only have three months to receive benefits in a three-year period, unless they work at least 80 hours per month.
The eligibility age for parents and guardians with children under 14 (previously 18) will also change, and exemptions for summers, homeless people, and those aged 24 or younger in foster care will be eliminated. Legal aliens in the United States will also lose their eligibility, and refugees, isolated individuals, survivors of trafficking, and other citizens will also lose benefits.