USDA says SNAP benefits will be paid to states within 24 hours of government shutdown ending

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday said it will fully pay out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits within 24 hours of President Donald Trump signing a bill that ends the government shutdown. 

The House is expected to pass a continuing resolution Wednesday evening that would restore federal funding through January, after the Senate passed the same legislation on Monday. Trump is expected to sign it shortly thereafter.

USDA spokesperson Alec Varsamis told Politico that once the federal government reopens, the majority of states will receive funds to distribute benefits “within 24 hours." The program has been without federal funding since Nov. 1.

Some states could see delays in funding SNAP benefits after the shutdown ends because the states paused the usual processes for approving the funds due to the shutdown, the outlet reported.

If the government reopens under the current bill, the SNAP program would be paid through September of next year. The program costs more than $8 billion per month nationally and impacts approximately 42 million Americans.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.