Shutdown + Choice: Why the USDA's refusal to tap food funding matters for women

Editor’s note: This post was updated on Nov. 12, 2025, to reflect new developments in SNAP program payments.

November 1, 2025 - As the government shutdown stretches on, federal nutrition programs that support over 40 million women and families (1 in 8 Americans) are caught in the crossfire. On October 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in a memo that it will not use emergency contingency funds to cover November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The funds—about $5 billion—exist for precisely this kind of disruption. The Trump administration, however, said it would hold them back, citing legal and budgetary constraints.

Things got more confusing after two federal judges ruled on October 29 that the USDA must disburse the SNAP funds, a decision resulting from lawsuits filed by 25 states. As of November 12, continued court rulings have led to some states issuing partial benefits, others issuing full benefits, and the remaining states still on hold while awaiting a final vote in the House to end the government shutdown.

Why it Matters

For women, these programs are access points to health. SNAP and WIC reduce food insecurity, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and lower long-term risks like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Nearly two-thirds of adult SNAP recipients are women, and WIC serves more than six million pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children each month. When benefits lapse, it isn’t just meals that disappear—it’s stability, nutrition, and health maintenance that vanish with them.

The refusal to release contingency funds is a policy choice that leaves states scrambling and families rationing. And because women make up the majority of recipients and caregivers, the impact falls squarely—and disproportionately—on them.

Background

During past government shutdowns, the USDA has typically used emergency reserves to keep food-assistance programs running. Congress authorizes this contingency fund to specifically help states continue SNAP and WIC benefits during temporary funding lapses. States can also draw on limited carry-over funds to cover short-term needs until the federal government reopens.

This shutdown is different. Both announcements - the initial refusal to fund payments and the current decision to make partial payments - will leave millions of families uncertain about their November benefits and force states to find stopgap measures of their own.

Lawmakers have been quick to respond. Members of Congress introduced the WIC Benefits Protection Act, a bill that would guarantee WIC payments through the shutdown and classify its funding as mandatory in the future—ensuring it can’t be frozen during political standoffs. Some states are also moving independently, tapping emergency funds or declaring temporary measures to keep benefits flowing, though most can only sustain those efforts for days or weeks.

On October 29, federal judges ordered the administration to release at least part of the contingency funds for November SNAP payments. While the ruling offers temporary relief, it also underscores the growing politicization of basic nutrition support—turning what has long been considered an essential safety net into a bargaining chip in federal budget negotiations.

Resources

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - SNAP’s Contingency Reserve Is Available for Regular SNAP Benefits, as USDA and OMB Have Ruled in Past
Politico - Trump administration says it won't tap emergency funds to pay food aid
The Guardian - Democrats launch bid to fund nutrition program for low-income women and kids amid shutdown
Associated Press - Judges order Trump administration to use emergency reserves for SNAP payments during the shutdown
The Hill - Trump admin says it will provide partial November SNAP benefits
NPR - 9 strategies to find free or low-cost food when money is tight