The Agriculture Department said Friday it can’t use a special reserve fund to pay food stamp benefits during the partial government shutdown because the money is meant to be used when appropriations fall short, not when the funding doesn’t exist.

In a memo released amid Democratic lawmakers’ pressure to get USDA to tap the fund, the department reiterated that it would not pay November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. It also told states they wouldn’t be reimbursed if they pay the benefits.

“SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because

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