USDA Announces Temporary SNAP and WIC Funding During Shutdown

November 3, 2025

Update: November 3, 2025 - USDA Announces Temporary SNAP and WIC Funding During Shutdown

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will use its remaining contingency balance to partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the end of November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The $4.6 billion in emergency funds is expected to cover roughly half of participants’ average benefit.

The announcement follows court orders issued late last week: the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island directed USDA to draw from its contingency fund to sustain SNAP, and a separate ruling in Massachusetts, brought by 25 state Attorneys General, reinforced that requirement.

USDA clarified that it will not draw from Section 32 funds, which will be reserved for child nutrition programs such as school meals. In addition, USDA has allocated $450 million in funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to cover November benefits.

The federal government remains shut down, as Congress and the Trump administration have yet to agree on a funding bill. IFPA is actively engaging federal leaders and will continue to share updates with members as the situation evolves. We remain committed to ensuring that fruits and vegetables stay within reach for all Americans.

Original Story: October 31, 2025 - SNAP & WIC Funding Cliff is November 1

As a result of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will cease on November 1. Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is also expected to run out shortly after.

What’s at Stake

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Roughly 10% or more of SNAP spending goes toward fresh fruits and vegetables (and more when including frozen, canned, and dried forms).
Serves 42 million low-income Americans, mostly in households earning ≤130% of the Federal Poverty Line (~$42,000 for a family of four).
Provides nearly $100 billion in benefits annually, or about $1.9 billion every week.
Most benefits are spent at supermarkets and superstores (78%), with smaller shares at online convenience, and specialty stores.
The average household benefit is $356 per month.

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)

Serves about 6.7 million mothers, infants, and young children under age 5.
Provides a monthly cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables of $47–$52 for mothers and $26 for children.
Annually, $2 billion is redeemed for fruits and vegetables, with an estimated 90% spent on fresh produce.
Most WIC benefits (68%) are redeemed in large grocers and supermarkets.

What Happens Next

Unless Congress passes a spending bill or the Trump administration provides emergency funding, SNAP benefits will stop on November 1 — the first real lapse in the program’s history since its national expansion in the 1960s.

WIC benefits will also end, and newly eligible mothers and children will be placed on a waitlist until funding is restored.
Food banks and schools are already preparing for a surge in demand, as children make up 40% of SNAP participants.
While emergency feeding networks are mobilizing, the private sector alone cannot fill this gap.

IFPA Action

IFPA is actively engaging federal leaders to prevent and mitigate the impact of this funding lapse and will continue to share updates with members as the situation evolves.

IFPA has called on the Trump administration and Congress to act swiftly to prevent a disruption of SNAP and WIC benefits.
IFPA joined a broad coalition of agricultural organizations to outline the devastating consequences of a government shutdown for the farm economy and food access.
To stay informed, join IFPA’s Nutrition and Health Community: Sign Up Here

Our Commitment

IFPA and its legacy organizations have a long championed increased fruit and vegetable access through SNAP and WIC. Some of key accomplishments include:

Helping establish the WIC Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables in 2009.
Supporting the creation of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) in 2014.
Successfully increasing WIC fruit and vegetable benefits by 75%, doubling funding for GusNIP, and expanding access to fresh produce through grocery retail and USDA purchasing programs.

We remain committed to ensuring that fruits and vegetables stay within reach for all Americans.

Questions?

IFPA Government Relations Team
www.freshproduce.com

USDA Announces Temporary SNAP and WIC Funding During Shutdown

What Happens Next

IFPA Action

Our Commitment

Questions?

Related Resources