Timeline of the legal battle surrounding SNAP benefits funding
The ongoing legal battle over the funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown has left families who rely on the food benefits in limbo and regional SNAP directors at an impasse.
At least 20 U.S. states had initiated the process of issuing full SNAP benefits before the Trump administration demanded they "undo" their actions -- with the recent guidance issued by USDA likely to become a key point of disagreement in the ongoing litigation.
Crucially, the USDA told SNAP regional directors on Friday that they are “working towards implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances” to comply with a court order, despite the Trump administration's ongoing appeal.
“Later today, [Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services] will complete the processes necessary to make funds available to support your subsequent transmittal of full issuance files to your EBT processor,” a notice from FNS Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn said.
On Saturday, the USDA followed up on its guidance by directing states to “not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processor” and “immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025."
In a court filing on Sunday, the Trump administration claimed the USDA’s notice on Friday “made it clear…that they should not submit any files until further direction.”
“To the extent that States decided to submit their files early— knowing that Defendants had appealed the Court’s injunction and intended to seek a stay, and in the face of direction to the contrary—they are responsible for the consequences of that action,” a DOJ lawyer told an appeals court.
ABC News has compiled a timeline below of the legal proceedings surrounding the funding of SNAP benefits.
Friday, Oct. 31: U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP benefits.
Friday, Oct. 31: Trump writes in a Truth Social post, “it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding.”
Saturday, Nov. 1: The same judge issues a written ruling, ordering the Trump administration to make full food benefit payments by Monday, or partial payments by Wednesday.
Monday, Nov. 3: The Trump administration says it will partially fund SNAP with approximately $4.5 billion, though the benefits will take “a few weeks to up to several months.”
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Trump says in a Truth Social post that SNAP funding “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.”
Thursday, Nov. 6: Judge McConnell orders the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP by Friday, finding their partial payment did not comply with his original court order.
Thursday, Nov. 6: Some states begin the process of issuing full SNAP benefits following Judge McConnell’s ruling.
Thursday, Nov. 6: The Trump administration files a notice of appeal to signal plans to challenge Judge McConnell’s order.
Friday, Nov. 7: USDA tells SNAP regional directors that they are “implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances in compliance with” Judge McConnell’s order.
USDA says that “later today, [Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services] will complete the processes necessary to make funds available to support your subsequent transmittal of full issuance files to your EBT processor.”
Friday, Nov. 7: The First Circuit denied the Trump administration’s request for an administrative stay of a court order requiring they fully fund SNAP benefits for the month of November.
Friday, Nov. 7: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an administrative stay of Judge McConnell’s ruling.
Saturday, Nov. 8 - USDA tells states that they “must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors.” USDA demands states “immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025” and warns that states will be “liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.”
Sunday, Nov. 9 - The Trump administration in a court says any full SNAP payments by states were “unauthorized.” The DOJ says that “To the extent that States decided to submit their files early— knowing that Defendants had appealed the Court’s injunction and intended to seek a stay, and in the face of direction to the contrary—they are responsible for the consequences of that action.”
20 states that said they had begun the process of issuing full benefits
California: California began issuing full SNAP benefits to the state’s 5.5 million recipients on Thursday after the district court’s ruling.
Kansas: The Kansas Department for Children and Families issued full benefits to SNAP recipients on Friday. Beneficiaries are expected to receive their benefits by the end of the day, with $31.6 million distributed to approximately 86,000 Kansas households.
Pennsylvania: Gov. Josh Shapiro said that officials issued full benefits on Friday, and recipients should be able to access those funds immediately.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin officials said they issued full benefits on Friday, distributing $104.4 million to 337,137 households.
Vermont: Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak said the state sent benefits to SNAP recipients on Friday. By the end of the day, 67,000 Vermonters should be able to access their benefits.
New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy said that New Jersey “acted immediately to process full SNAP benefits” for 800,000 recipients.
Hawaii: Joseph Campos II, deputy director of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services, told the AP that the state quickly moved to issue full benefits after Thursday’s order.
Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek said that the state quickly worked to issue full benefits so SNAP recipients could access their benefits over the weekend.
Washington: Gov. Bob Ferguson said that 250,000 households received their full SNAP benefits on Friday.
Colorado: Officials issued full benefits to about 32,000 residents before SCOTUS issued its ruling. More than half a million residents are still waiting for their benefits.
Massachusetts: Half a million residents got their SNAP benefits over the weekend, according to Gov. Maura Healey. Another half million are expected to get their benefits next week.
Rhode Island: 79,000 households got their full benefits on Saturday, according to Gov. Dan McKee.
New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services told WMUR that all SNAP recipients received their full benefits.
Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont said the SNAP recipients received their full benefits as of Saturday afternoon.
New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul said she directed state agencies to issue full federal SNAP benefits. New Yorkers should expect to begin accessing their benefits starting on Sunday, she said.
Minnesota: Minnesota said it is preparing to issue full SNAP benefits over the weekend, with money distributed to EBT cards over the coming days. In a statement, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families said it was “monitoring” the appeal.
North Carolina: North Carolina officials originally said that SNAP recipients should begin seeing full EBT benefits as soon as this weekend, but they paused the full benefits after the SCOTUS ruling. 586,000 households have already received a partial payment.
South Dakota: The South Dakota Department of Social Services said it will be issuing the full allotment of SNAP benefits” on Friday. Officials projected that recipients should see benefits in their accounts by Monday. The DSS said on Saturday that it is pausing its plan to issue full benefits following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs announced on Friday that Arizonans have begun receiving their full SNAP benefits. “Over the coming days, SNAP recipients should see their November benefit loaded onto their card,” she said.
Michigan: SNAP recipients in Michigan were able to receive their full benefits this week, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
