The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has severely disrupted SNAP benefits, affecting 42 million recipients and exacerbating hunger. Court rulings have ordered full funding, but the Trump administration is appealing, leading to delays. In response, food waste reduction organizations like Retaaza are stepping in to distribute surplus produce to those in need.
The government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has left SNAP funding in limbo. Last week, district court judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds for November's SNAP benefits. The administration responded by planning to restore only half the amount, with potential delays of months for recipients.
On Thursday, McConnell ruled that the USDA must provide full SNAP benefits for November, setting an end-of-day Friday deadline for distribution to states. "This should never happen in America," McConnell said during the hearing. The administration appealed the decision and filed an emergency motion Friday morning, arguing the judge overstepped his authority. A USDA spokesperson told Grist: "Senate Democrats have voted 14 times against reopening the government. This compromises not only SNAP, but farm programs, food inspection, animal and plant disease protection, rural development, and protecting federal lands."
Later Friday, USDA officials memoed states to prepare for full monthly SNAP benefits, though without mentioning the appeal. That evening, Trump requested the Supreme Court block the ruling. The appeals court had declined to pause payments. States like Pennsylvania criticized the USDA's complex distribution instructions, warning of weeks-long delays. California, Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin began processing full benefits despite the legal fight.
As 42 million SNAP users face uncertainty, new work requirements from Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" are set to cut benefits further. Food banks and organizations are mobilizing. In DeKalb County, Georgia, Retaaza, founded in 2020 by Kashi Sehgal, is distributing surplus produce via a van twice weekly. SNAP users get half off marked-down fruits and vegetables. "It's like an ice cream truck, but for veggies and produce," Sehgal said. Retaaza has redirected 1.1 million pounds of surplus food, addressing Georgia's food waste that contributes to 8.3 megatonnes of CO2 emissions annually, potentially rising to 9.3 by 2030.
Nationally, 17 percent of farmed food is wasted, worth $382 billion in 2023 and emitting as much as 54 million vehicles. "In this day and age, no food should be thrown out," Sehgal added. SNAP supports 388,000 retail jobs and $4.5 billion in tax revenue. Mitch Jones of Food & Water Watch criticized: "By threatening to withhold SNAP benefits during the shutdown, Trump is acting less like a president and more like a king—using low-income individuals as pawns." Angel Veza of ReFED noted groups scaling operations with surplus food. In Des Moines, Iowa, Matt Chapman, 62, relies on such rescues amid shutdown uncertainties: "The rent eats first... But I only have enough to either get my medicine or get my food."