With the ongoing government shutdown entering its 36th day on November 5, 2025, this shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.
The economic pain from this had been accumulating throughout much of October, but the hardship was turned up a notch on November 1, when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was put on pause due to the government shutdown.
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Shortly after November 1, the federal court ordered the government to release at least partial funding to SNAP recipients, an order the Trump administration had initially planned to obey. After the court’s ruling, the administration announced it would use a $4.65 billion contingency fund from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cover approximately half of the SNAP payments for November (1).
But on November 4, Trump seemed to insinuate the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits won’t get the immediate help that was promised, posting on Trust Social that benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before,” according to WHAS11 News.
However, the White House clarified Trump’s comments later that day, when press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the administration is using contingency funding to pay out SNAP benefits.
“The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand, it’s going to take some time to receive this money, because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position,” said Leavitt, according to WHAS11 News. “We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes, for war.”
SNAP benefits — or food stamps, as they’re more commonly known — are a key pillar of America’s social safety net. Any disruption to the system could have far-reaching implications, not only for the program’s beneficiaries but also for retailers and consumers nationwide.
Here’s what’s at stake.
42 million Americans directly impacted
SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in the country, with roughly 12.3% of America’s population relying on at least some food assistance, according to USDA data (2). In 2023, roughly 83% of these benefits went to households with young children, seniors or people with disabilities.
“SNAP benefits are literally the lifeline that feeds us at the end of the month,” Juan Saro, a SNAP recipient, told CNN (3).
After the federal court ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to partially sustain the SNAP program throughout November, Trump wrote about the court’s decisions on Truth Social, saying he does “NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT (4).”
“I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out,” Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, 22 states have enabled emergency funding for either food banks or the program directly to keep the lifeline open for their residents, according to Axios (5). That means at least some American families may be able to avoid the worst-case scenario.
But that still leaves millions of people in other states vulnerable, and experts believe the fallout could flow to retailers and families that do not rely on the program.
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The impact on retailers
SNAP benefits are not just a benefit for vulnerable families, but a key source of revenue for retailers across the country.
Walmart alone accounts for 24% of total SNAP spending, according to market research data firm Numerator (6). That means if funding for the program lapses, the retail giant stands to lose an estimated $2 billion.
Wolfe Research analyst Spencer Hanus estimates that discount retailers like Dollar General and Dollar Tree could also see a hit to mid-single-digit revenue if the program is suspended (7). Kroger and Costco are also reportedly exposed.
Although the impact on grocery prices is difficult to predict with precision, David Ortega — professor of food economics at Michigan State University — told Reuters that some retailers could raise prices to preserve their thin margins when SNAP funds begin to lapse (8). In other words, ordinary families could face higher grocery bills to cover the shortfall.
Workers are impacted, too. Nearly one-third of Amazon’s warehouse workers relied on at least one publicly funded assistance program — such as SNAP — in 2024, according to a recent report (9).
How to weather the storm
If you or your loved ones rely on SNAP benefits, you could consider some cost-effective alternatives for the weeks ahead. You can look for local state or municipal programs that offer food assistance or reach out to your local food bank.
You could also consider community pantries to plug the gap. If you have the opportunity, stock up on non-perishable items with any available funds.
If your family doesn’t rely on the program, consider tightening your grocery budget. It’s difficult to say if retailers will raise grocery prices to offset the loss in revenue, but if they do, you may need to try to spend less on groceries.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
WHAS11 News (1); USDA (2); CNN (3); Truth Social (4); Axios (5); Numerator (6); CNBC (7); Reuters (8); University of Illinois, Center for Urban Economic Development (9)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: White House says SNAP to get partial funding in November after defiant Trump post creates confusion — what’s at stake
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.