Trump administration demands states undo' full SNAP payouts as states warn of catastrophic impact'

"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."

"Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November despite the ongoing government shutdown. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states, and the Trump administration belatedly said the program could continue. On Friday night, however, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused the two rulings ordering the SNAP disbursement while the nation's highest court considered the Trump administration's appeal."

"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."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered states to undo full SNAP payments for November 2025 after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed two rulings that had authorized disbursements. More than two dozen states warned of catastrophic operational disruptions and sought reimbursement for benefits authorized before the stay. Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to preserve SNAP during the government shutdown, winning rulings that briefly released benefits in multiple states. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paused those rulings pending the Supreme Court's review. Deputy Undersecretary Patrick Penn warned states that payments under the prior orders were unauthorized and cautioned about potential penalties.

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