We estimate that USDA’s plan will result in a roughly 60% cut in average benefits. Because of how the SNAP benefit calculation works, USDA's plan to cut maximum benefits for each household size by 50% results in a deeper cut to average benefits—and a much deeper cut than needed.

New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.

Families cannot afford further delays. The Administration must immediately release the contingency reserves and use their legal authority to transfer additional funds so families can get the full benefits they need to buy food as quickly as possible.

Today’s rulings confirm what’s been clear all along: the Administration has been sitting on billions of available dollars that it is legally required to use to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their groceries.

This Cardinal News report about the impact of federal uncertainty around SNAP benefits highlights the stories of Virginians who rely on the program to stretch their food budgets and put meals on the table for their families:

Virginia Fresh Match is offering a November Harvest Special to help SNAP households stretch their food budget next month. More details and participating locations: https://t.co/aWr5xjOk7N

Hunger is a policy choice. USDA can act today to make sure SNAP benefits go out on time. @USDAgov @SecRollins — use your authority.

The Trump Administration’s assertion that it can't use SNAP’s contingency reserves for SNAP benefits is contrary to: ▪️The plain language of the law ▪️Their own (now deleted) shutdown plan ▪️Guidance from prior Administrations We have the receipts:

My latest: Trump Administration Severely Limits Funding for Rural Hospitals and Clinics from Rural Health Transformation Fund – Capped at 15% https://t.co/0k4McDP5RU

Hunger is a policy choice. Georgetown Law professor David Super outlines in the blog post linked below why USDA's refusal to ensure SNAP families can put food on the table is also illegal:

The Western Center on Law & Poverty is collecting survey responses about hunger and SNAP from SNAP recipients nationwide to try to protect SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. You can take the short survey here:

As states wait for direction from USDA, it's unclear whether November SNAP benefits will be issued on time. If you're having trouble putting food on the table & either receive SNAP benefits or are thinking about applying, here's what you need to know.

"Augusta Health has pointed to decreased revenues from Medicaid because of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act as one reason for the closings. The legislation restricts use of provider taxes and direct payments to help reimburse hospitals for treating patients under Medicaid."

With clinics closed, Churchville’s predicament could foreshadow things to come for more of rural Virginia:

#DKY that the National School Lunch Program serves nearly 30 million students each school day in approximately 95,000 public and private schools nationwide? Programs like this are what help reduce food insecurity! #NSLW25

Virginians deserve reliable access to the health care AND food assistance they need. Virginians struggling to make ends meet will also feel the impact of expiring premium tax credits—which help lower monthly plan costs—if Congress fails to take action to make them permanent.

USDA must act immediately to use its contingency fund—which totaled around $6 billion when estimates were last released under the previous administration—to prevent a food assistance gap. Clear USDA guidance is urgently needed before November 1.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has warned states that, because of the federal shutdown, there may not be enough funding to provide a full month of November SNAP benefits. States have been told to hold their benefit files, creating uncertainty for millions of families.

The rise in debt-collection complaints also suggests debt collectors may feel emboldened, some consumer advocates say, by a presidential administration that has gutted the federal government’s consumer watchdog effort. #CFPB #ProtectConsumers @USATODAY

This is NOT an end-of-year issue. Open enrollment runs Nov.1 – Jan.15 for most states and window shopping begins in October. If Congress waits until Dec.31, 1.5 million more people will be uninsured in 2026 compared to an earlier extension. (4/4) https://t.co/fdcuhagNu4