Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) FAQs
*This information is current as of November 4, 2025. If you have a question that has not been addressed here, please contact my office at (702) 963-9360 for assistance.
Table of Contents
- What will happen with SNAP benefits on November 01, 2025?
- Why is this decision by the Trump-Vance Administration considered illegal?
- Does USDA have the funds to cover November benefits?
- What have the Courts said?
- What do these rulings mean?
- Who will be affected by the suspension of SNAP benefits?
- Why does the government shutdown affect SNAP?
- What is Nevada doing?
What will happen with SNAP benefits on November 01, 2025?
As a result of the Republican-fueled shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning on suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits come November 01, 2025, until further notice. This decision effectively cuts off food assistance for nearly 42 million Americans – including more than 500,000 Nevadans – who rely on SNAP each month. The Trump–Vance Administration made this decision despite having both the legal authority and sufficient funds available to ensure uninterrupted benefits.
Why is this decision by the Trump-Vance Administration considered illegal?
President Trump’s decision to halt SNAP benefits is illegal because the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has both the authority and financial resources to continue the program through its contingency fund and statutory transfer authority. Federal law explicitly permits the use of these funds during a lapse in appropriations to ensure that SNAP benefits are not interrupted. By refusing to utilize these legal mechanisms, the Trump–Vance Administration is unlawfully denying food assistance to millions of Americans.
Does USDA have the funds to cover November benefits?
Yes. Each year, SNAP receives $3 billion in contingency funding, which can be carried over for up to three years. It is estimated that between $5 billion and $6 billion currently remains available – enough to cover a substantial portion of November benefits. While this amount alone may not fully fund all benefits, the USDA also possesses statutory transfer authority that allows it to move additional funds from other programs as needed. Together, these resources are more than sufficient to provide full SNAP benefits for November without interruption.
What have the Courts said?
On Friday, October 31, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required to use SNAP’s contingency fund to issue November benefits. In a separate decision, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered USDA to “distribute the contingency money timely, for the November 1 payments to be made.” The Rhode Island court also found that USDA’s cancellation of SNAP work-requirement waivers in areas with persistent unemployment was unlawful.
What do these rulings mean?
Unfortunately, SNAP benefits will still be delayed because of the Trump–Administration’s unlawful decision to withhold funding. Once benefits are approved for release, states must submit beneficiary files to their EBT processors for payment processing – a step that typically takes one to two weeks. Additional delays are possible depending on what next steps the Administration may take as well.
Who will be affected by the suspension of SNAP benefits?
The suspension of November SNAP benefits would harm many of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. In Nevada alone, about 62 percent of SNAP households include a child, and more than 31 percent include a senior or person with a disability. Each month, SNAP supports 71,000 children, 54,000 seniors, 65,000 individuals with disabilities, and 17,000 veterans across the state. Rural communities would be hit especially hard, as participation rates in rural counties and small towns are significantly higher than in metropolitan areas.
Why does the government shutdown affect SNAP?
SNAP is classified as a “mandatory program,” meaning its funding depends on annual appropriations passed by Congress. Because fiscal year 2025 appropriations have lapsed, November benefits are at risk. However, contingency funds exist specifically to prevent a disruption like this. In previous shutdowns, the department has drawn from these reserves to maintain benefits and keep the program operating without interruption.
What is Nevada doing?
Nevada, which usually receives about $90 million a month in SNAP funding from the USDA to assist roughly one in six residents, is implementing emergency measures in response to the Republican-led government shutdown that has suspended federal SNAP benefits. The state will allocate $30.2 million in state funds, $8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and $800,000 from the Nevada Department of Agriculture to create the Nevada Food Insecurity Plan. The initiative will direct resources to food banks across the state to purchase additional supplies and help maintain basic food access for residents affected by the loss of federal assistance.