"President Donald Trump 's administration is demanding states "undo" full SNAP benefits paid out under judges' orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of "catastrophic operational disruptions" if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay."
""To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized," Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors. "Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025." Penn warned that states could face penalties if they did not comply. It was unclear if the directive applies to states that used their own funds to keep the program alive or to ones relying on federal money entirely."
Federal officials directed states to reverse full November SNAP benefit payments after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed two judges' rulings that ordered disbursements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture informed state SNAP directors that payments sent under those orders were unauthorized and instructed states to undo any steps taken to issue full benefits, warning of potential penalties. More than two dozen states warned of "catastrophic operational disruptions" without federal reimbursement. Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general had won orders enabling benefit releases amid a government shutdown, but Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paused those orders. It remained unclear whether the USDA directive applied to states using their own funds. Governor Maura Healey said legal action would follow if funds were clawed back. The Department of Agriculture did not immediately respond.
Read at Boston.com
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