(The hill) – New Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules will go into effect Saturday, until There is uncertainty about whether the benefits It will be released in November
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Websitewhere millions of Americans can review their options and apply, details how “the well has run dry” for issuing program benefits. At the top of the page, USDA blames Senate Democrats for not issuing benefits starting Saturday.
“Senate Democrats have voted 13 times to defund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” the page read. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued on November 1. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out on health care for illegal aliens and sex smear procedures or reopen the government so mothers, children, and the most vulnerable among us can get critical food assistance.”
While SNAP benefits will not be released until funding continues, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” also applies New restrictions It will take effect starting Saturday. these Changes The federal spending cut of about $186 billion over the next decade is expected to push some people out of the program.
Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can see the biggest change in needing to prove they work at least 80 hours a month, pursue education or enroll in a training program to remain eligible for SNAP. If they don’t have proof, they will receive SNAP benefits for a maximum of three months total.
Additionally, any able adult under age 65 must prove they are working to continue receiving benefits. Parents with dependents under 14 are now exempt from the work requirement, whereas previously it applied to parents with dependents under 18. Youth, veterans and the homeless must now meet work requirements to receive more than three months of benefits.
Another change in effect will affect “Noncitizen SNAP eligibility” for immigrants, including noncitizen U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian immigrants, and those who are undocumented.
State agencies will have to review “home circumstances to take appropriate action” during the immigrant’s certification period for benefits before notifying that individual that he or she is no longer eligible for SNAP, according to US Department of Agriculture website.
At the same time, refugees who have been granted asylum and survivors of human trafficking will lose their benefits, according to A note From the Oregon Department of Human Services.
What remains an issue is whether the USDA will use its emergency funding to allow SNAP benefits to be paid through November. On Friday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from doing soto cutBenefits of Snap. U.S. District Judge John McConnell rejected the argument that emergency funding can only be used for those affected by natural disasters.
“SNAP benefits have never been ended yet.”McConnellHe said at the hearing. “The United States has, in fact, acknowledged that emergency funds were being used appropriately during the 2019 shutdown.”
There is about $5.25 billion allocated to cover the program in November, but it does not fully cover the $9.2 billion allocated by Agriculture Secretary Brock Rollins. He said The federal government will have to spend on the program.
Friday, Rollins told reporters That Democrats were wrong to suggest that the emergency fund could be used.
“If the Democrats today say, for example, ‘Oh, never mind, sorry, we’re going to reopen the government,’ and SNAP flows in, or Hurricane Melissa or one of the hurricanes hits, that’s the emergency fund that we’re going to use to send more money to vulnerable communities that are affected by a particular event like a hurricane,” Rollins said.
She continued: “But it is an emergency fund that cannot flow unless the basic appropriation is approved.” “And listen, even if it could flow, it doesn’t even cover half of November. And here we are again, in two weeks, having the exact same conversation.”
Later on Friday, Trump noted He would fund SNAP, but indicated that it would be postponed to November.
“Our government lawyers do not believe we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain funds we have available, and now two courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump said.Published on Social Truth.
He continued, “I don’t want Americans to go hungry just because extremist Democrats refuse to do the right thing and reopen the government.” “Therefore, I have instructed our attorneys to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”