Why Should Delaware Care:
The Trump administration will partially fund SNAP benefits for November, as Delaware’s emergency plan to fund the food aid program for 11% of the state’s population kicks in this week. The potential of benefits expiring entirely after November once emergency funds are depleted remains on the table, however.
The Trump administration agreed to partially fund national food benefits Monday after two federal judges ordered the program to remain open and days after Gov. Matt Meyer announced Delaware’s plan to fund food stamps for state recipients through November.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the national food aid program, told a federal judge in Rhode Island it intends to use $4.65 billion in emergency contingency funds to fund 50% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits nationwide for the month of November.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the USDA to release the money to SNAP recipients as soon as possible, as funds were set to expire Nov. 1, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. McConnell argued in his ruling that “irreparable harm” would occur if SNAP benefits were to expire for up to 42 million Americans.
The USDA argued in its filing that the dip into the emergency fund would not leave any money for disaster assistance or new SNAP applicants certified in November. It remains unclear what would happen if the government shutdown lasts through the month or if the federal emergency funds are depleted.
Each month, the federal government gives states money for SNAP, an anti-hunger initiative that helps roughly 42 million low-income Americans buy groceries.
Last week, Meyer declared a state of emergency and announced a plan to use state funds to pay for SNAP benefits on a week-by-week basis. The state plans to pay more than $5 million every week for Delawareans to receive food stamps through November or until the government reopens, whichever comes first.
Without state action, Delaware would be barred from issuing millions in federal food aid to about 60,000 households in November. About 11% of Delaware’s population – 110,000 people – receive SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Despite the court order, benefits to Delaware recipients will be delayed in November.
SNAP benefits will not reach Delawareans until at least Friday, Nov. 7, said Mila Myles, a spokeswoman for Meyer. Some of the state funds for SNAP are being pulled from the planned $33 million Legislative Hall parking garage, Myles added — a move that state Republicans had also suggested.
In total, the plan may cost the state more than $20 million, if the federal government does not reopen by the end of November.
The USDA originally said states would not be reimbursed if they covered SNAP benefits on their own and that the agency could not use contingency funds to pay for the food benefits either, according to a memo first obtained by Axios.
In the wake of Monday’s court filings, it remains unclear when Delaware will receive its share of the reduced federal dollars.
The state funds are being made available with “full awareness” that the money may not be reimbursed by the federal government, Myles said.
The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
In its court filing, the USDA said it must notify states of the effective date of the reduction and by what percentage SNAP benefits will be reduced.
Meyer’s office has not yet received any communications from the USDA, according to Myles.
