As the Trump administration races to justify its decision to only partially fund food stamp payments during the ongoing federal shutdown, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network warns that millions of families are already falling deeper into crisis.
On Friday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that would have required the administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The pause gives the White House additional time to argue against the mandate — a move critics say jeopardizes basic food access for vulnerable households, while supporters argue it preserves federal resources.
The legal back-and-forth leaves 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP — roughly one in eight U.S. households — facing mounting uncertainty about how they will keep food on the table.
“This situation is catastrophic,” said Monica Lopez Gonzales, chief marketing and communications officer at Feeding America. “Right now, 42 million people are having a hard time affording groceries, and their lives are being disrupted because their benefits have been disrupted.”
The organization — which coordinates more than 200 food banks and 60,000 pantries nationwide — has seen a sharp surge in demand since the shutdown began. Visits to its food-bank locator have increased sixfold, topping 28,000 per day as families search for help.
“The lines are getting longer, and the food is running out early,” Gonzales added. “We see veterans, older adults, moms, and kids — everyone is stressed.”
The situation follows weeks of warnings that SNAP — costing about $9 billion per month — was close to exhausting its funds. Initially, the administration planned to cover only 65% of benefits using a $4.6 billion contingency reserve. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell in Rhode Island rejected that plan and ordered the government to fully fund November benefits by tapping additional agriculture funds under “Section 32.”
Complicating matters further, the administration has also told grocery stores that offering discounts to SNAP recipients could be considered a violation of program rules.
“People have gone without for too long,” the judge said. “The evidence shows that people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened, and needless suffering will occur.”
The Department of Justice appealed his ruling, arguing the court overstepped by compelling spending authority it does not possess. Government lawyers maintain that only Congress can approve new appropriations.
The Supreme Court’s move highlights a broader struggle over how far executive power can stretch when safety-net programs collide with fiscal politics.
A Growing Hunger Emergency
Feeding America warns that these legal clashes overlook a simple truth: hunger is already worsening.
“We already knew that nearly 50 million people are experiencing hunger in this country, and 14 million of those are children,” Gonzales said. “This disruption has made the situation even worse.”
The network distributes about six billion meals a year, but Gonzales emphasized that no charity can match the scale of SNAP.
“Even if we try, we cannot fulfill the needs that already exist,” she said. “Anything that we do cannot replace SNAP.”
Internal polling by the organization shows:
- 71% of Americans are concerned about the shutdown’s effect on food aid
- 83% of food-insecure households report skipping meals or purchasing less food
- 85% say they’ve turned to cheaper, less nutritious options
The patchwork structure of SNAP — jointly administered by states and the federal government — means families are now receiving conflicting information about when or if their normal benefits will return.
“We recommend that families check with their local food banks or state offices to understand the situation,” Gonzales said. “We are doing everything we can to provide clarity.”
A coalition of cities, labor groups, and faith-based organizations involved in the Rhode Island court case is urging the appeals court to uphold the requirement for full funding. Their filings argue the administration’s claims of insufficient reserves are “facially implausible,” noting large balances in related nutrition funds.
Meanwhile, Feeding America’s data shows 91% of households already affected have sought pantry support — including many first-time visitors.
“The stress is enormous,” Gonzales said. “We’re talking about people who were already stretched thin, and now they’re running out of options.”
