President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration will withhold full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments until Congress ends the ongoing government shutdown, intensifying a standoff with Democrats as millions of Americans face uncertainty about their food benefits.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump blasted what he called the “Radical Left Democrats” for refusing to reopen the government and said he would not authorize SNAP disbursements until they acted.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which ballooned by billions during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term, will be released only when Radical Left Democrats open the government — and not before!” Trump wrote, claiming the program had been “handed out to anyone for the asking” rather than being reserved for those truly in need.
The announcement comes as states struggle with the funding shortfall caused by the shutdown, leaving millions of low-income households uncertain about when — or if — they’ll receive November food assistance.
Last month, a federal judge ordered the administration to use emergency funds to keep SNAP running temporarily. But the White House said this week it would not divert money from other programs, calling such a move “an unacceptable risk” to national operations.
Officials confirmed that reduced or delayed payments may be issued in the coming weeks. The recalculation process, they said, could take time and vary by state, potentially leading to interruptions for recipients who rely on the monthly benefit.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, also issued guidance to retailers, reminding them that stores cannot offer discounts or incentives tied to SNAP purchases during the shutdown — a move that sparked further confusion among grocers and recipients alike.
At a briefing Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to calm growing concern, saying that partial benefits would still go out but warned of “some expected delay” while agencies work through funding limitations.
Trump, who has made spending cuts and program restrictions a central part of his economic message, framed the standoff as a test of fiscal responsibility. “The Democrats can end this today,” he said, reiterating that no full SNAP payments would resume until Congress passes a funding bill.
For millions of families depending on the program to buy food, the uncertainty adds new pressure as the shutdown drags on — and as the political showdown over social spending deepens heading into the winter months.