Updated November 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM PST

The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP food benefits but it will pay out only half the amount people normally get.

The administration will use money from an Agriculture Department contingency fund. The administration says there's only $4.65 billion available in that fund to pay for SNAP benefits, which is roughly half of the $8 billion in food assistance payments people receive every month.

In a court filing, officials said depleting that fund means "no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely." The Trump administration declined to tap any additional funds for SNAP saying that could take money away

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