**The Agriculture Department Has $5.5 Billion in Backup Funds for Food Stamp Benefits but Says It Can’t Use Them**
*By Mariana Alfaro and Jacob Bogage | The Washington Post | October 28, 2025, 5:47 p.m. EDT*
With the nation’s primary anti-hunger program on the verge of running out of money, more than two dozen states and the District of Columbia sued the Agriculture Department on Tuesday to force it to make billions of dollars in contingency funds available to help feed the most vulnerable individuals and families.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, needs $9.2 billion to pay benefits in November. However, due to the ongoing government shutdown, which started on October 1 and shows no signs of ending, the Trump administration has stated there is no money available for next month’s payments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently holds $5.5 billion in contingency funds designated for the program—enough to cover more than half of November’s costs. However, a senior administration official told *The Washington Post* on Monday that the USDA cannot disburse these funds. According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, these contingency funds are meant to be reserved for natural disasters or other catastrophes, not used to cover a lapse in government funding.
In response, the attorneys general and governors involved in the lawsuit argue that withholding the contingency funds violates federal spending laws. They contend that the administration should be required to release the money, even if it can only cover partial benefit payments for November. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Late Tuesday, Judge Indira Talwani scheduled a hearing on the lawsuit for Thursday at 11 a.m. The officials are seeking a temporary restraining order to compel the release of the contingency funds.
Approximately 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits each month. According to federal data, the average benefit is $332 per household. The potential loss of benefits amid the shutdown threatens the food security of millions of Americans.
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*Read more at washingtonpost.com.*
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**Topics:** Government, Politics/Elections
**Keywords:** SNAP, USDA, Food Stamps, Government Shutdown
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