WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that his administration will not distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits until Democrats agree to end the ongoing government shutdown, directly challenging recent federal court orders mandating the use of emergency funds to continue payments. This announcement represents a reversal from the administration's earlier compliance, where it had planned to provide partial benefits using contingency funds, according to Yahoo News. Trump made the remarks amid the shutdown's 35th day, which has left over 1 million federal workers unpaid and threatened food security for approximately 42 million Americans reliant on SNAP, as reported by The Boston Globe. "SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office... will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!" - President Donald J. Trump — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 4, 2025 This stance comes despite rulings from Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston and a federal judge in Rhode Island, who ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tap into emergency reserves to fund the program, according to Bloomberg. Earlier, the administration had indicated it would use contingency funds for half the usual SNAP payments in November, but experts now warn that this halt could exacerbate food insecurity, with no resources left for new applicants or disaster relief, as noted by The Guardian. The shutdown stems from partisan gridlock over health care subsidies and funding packages, per CBS News. Florida residents relying on SNAP may experience disruptions in their November benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to an update from the Florida Department of Children and Families. "If the federal government shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits for the month of November will not be issued until federal funding is restored," the Department stated in an official notice. Recipients might still receive notifications about their eligible benefit amounts, but no funds will be deposited onto Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards during this period. SIMILAR STORIES Food Stamp Ban On Junk Food Could Impact 2.7 Million In Florida