SNAP Benefits Cut by 35% as U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Record-Breaking Phase

By Nicole Weatherholtz | Thursday, 06 November 2025 01:29 PM EST

A Department of Agriculture official revealed that beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive 65% of their normal allotment for November instead of the previously estimated 50%. Patrick Penn, the department’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, disclosed the updated rate in a Wednesday night court filing.

On Monday, the Trump administration informed a federal judge it would utilize over $4 billion in contingency funds to distribute half of November’s benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Under revised figures, a family of four in the contiguous United States would receive approximately $646 in SNAP benefits for the month. The reason for the rate change remains unclear, though the Justice Department described it as an “error” that was corrected “as soon as it was discovered.”

The timeline for distributing the benefits to the program’s more than 40 million recipients is still uncertain. In a social media post on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that “several weeks” would be required to execute partial payments. “Senate Democrats need to quit the games, quit holding American families hostage to ridiculous demands like health care for illegals, and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” Rollins wrote on X. “Once they do, FULL benefits can get to families without delay.”

The government shutdown now spans 37 days, making it the longest in U.S. history. Many states, including Louisiana, New Mexico, and Vermont, have implemented emergency plans to assist SNAP recipients amid the funding impasse.