What You Need to Know About SNAP
A guide to federal funding cuts
Carina Dieringer
What is SNAP?
The United States government introduced food stamps in 1939 to help alleviate impacts of the Great Depression. EBT cards replaced paper food stamps in the 1990s, and the program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 2008. SNAP assists Americans who meet financial need requirements with purchasing groceries. It has historically received bipartisan support.
Why are SNAP benefits being cut?
SNAP benefits expired Nov. 1 for an indefinite amount of time. Offices and agencies within the United States government shut down Oct. 1 due to a lack of funding caused by disagreement among lawmakers over a funding bill. Many democrats will not sign off on the bill because it does not address an upcoming expiration of healthcare subsidies. The expiration would increase healthcare costs by more than double for 24 million Americans.
The Trump administration has illegally posted statements on multiple government websites blaming democrats and “the radical left” for the government shutdown. Anyone searching for a reason behind the SNAP cuts on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website is greeted with a statement citing “healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures” as the motive behind a lack of funds. This places unfounded blame on immigrants and transgender people.
This is the first time the program in its current form has not received funds. During previous government shutdowns, SNAP funds were allocated earlier than usual to account for funding issues.
The current Trump administration has repeatedly attacked SNAP benefits. The “big beautiful bill” passed in July cut SNAP budgets by $186 billion over the next 10 years and barred Americans without citizenship from eligibility, including refugees and survivors of human trafficking or domestic violence. It also required state governments to pay 75% of SNAP funds, compared to the previous 50%.
SNAP recipients do not collect much from the federal government—a monthly average of $190.59 per person—but those funds are extremely valuable to individuals and families struggling with financial insecurity. They provide dinner after a long work shift, a snack before a child’s sports practice, or breakfast with family.
Who is affected?
SNAP provides individuals and families across the U.S. with the ability to eat. Those who qualify are generally at or below 130% of the poverty line. 41.7 million Americans, or 12.3% of the U.S. population, relied on SNAP benefits to assist with groceries in 2024. Children make up 39% of that number, and 1 in 5 total children in the United States receive SNAP benefits. 1 in thirteen Minnesotans, 62% of which are families with children, rely on the program. Black and Hispanic people qualify for SNAP benefits at a disproportionate rate.
Everyone currently on SNAP will not receive benefits for the month of November. Those with leftover funds from October can continue to use them, but leftover money is rare because it is used on necessary grocery purchases.
What is being done to restore access?
On Friday, Oct. 31, two federal judges in Boston and Rhode Island ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP benefits using an emergency fund. The fund would cover 60% of the necessary budget for SNAP. As of Nov 2., it is unclear whether the federal government will adhere to these rulings or what funds will be available through the rest of the month of November. Some states have declared a state of emergency in order to allocate funds. Minnesota has sent $4 million to food shelves, however, this is not enough to offset the $73 million in SNAP benefits Minnesotans receive monthly.
Food resources:
Nutritious U Food Pantry: A free grocery pantry open to all UMN students (no ID required) that operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the St. Paul, West Bank, and East Bank campuses on various dates throughout every month.
findhelp.org: This website uses zipcodes to search for nearby food banks, along with other resources such as housing, medical care, and financial assistance.
1-888-711-1151: Minnesota food helpline that connects users with food resources through call or text. Interpretation services are available in Somali, Spanish, Hmong, and other languages.