Trump Administration's SNAP Order Sparks Controversy and Chaos Among States

Mon Nov 10 2025 00:35:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Trump administration's demand for states to retract SNAP benefits following a Supreme Court ruling has led to warnings of operational disruptions and legal repercussions in numerous states.

In a recent turn of events, the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructed states to reverse full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after the Supreme Court stayed previous court rulings allowing their issuance. This directive comes amidst a government shutdown and is met with significant pushback from state governors and attorneys general who argue it could lead to catastrophic disruptions for millions relying on these benefits.

In a tumultuous shift regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Trump administration has taken decisive action demanding states to retract full benefits that were disbursed under judicial orders made last week. This request comes after the U.S. Supreme Court granted a temporary stay on rulings that previously allowed these distributions, raising alarms for the 42 million Americans dependent on this vital anti-hunger program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated that states must immediately remedy the situation, positing that any full payment files sent for November were unauthorized. This directive follows warnings from over two dozen states about potential “catastrophic operational disruptions,” should they be forced to reimburse the authorized SNAP benefits.

Last week, after nonprofit groups and Democratic attorneys general contested the ongoing government shutdown's effects on SNAP, favorable court rulings had permitted the swift dissemination of benefits to many households. However, following the Supreme Court's stay on the rulings, the USDA communicated to state SNAP directors that any action taken based on earlier orders was now considered invalid.

"To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized," noted Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture. "Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025."

Incensed by the ultimatum, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) termed the order "shocking," especially for states like hers that utilized state funds to sustain the program during the governmental impasse. Democratic Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts expressed her intent to challenge Trump's efforts to reclaim the funds, affirming, "Massachusetts residents with funds on their cards should continue to spend it on food.”

Recent communications from the Trump administration have left many state officials feeling confused and unsettled. Maryland's Governor Wes Moore commented on the plethora of conflicting guidance from the administration over the past week. He emphasized the chaos this creates for state operations as they strive to assist their residents.

The backlash intensified when states like Wisconsin announced they had loaded benefits onto cards for over 700,000 residents based on court orders, only to face the risk of reimbursement claims that could amount to hundreds of millions in total.

“This situation risks catastrophic operational disruptions for the States, with serious repercussions for their residents,” noted the states’ court filing. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, firmly rejecting the USDA’s directive, underscored their commitment to supporting food access for vulnerable populations in the state.