Trump Administration Says No to SNAP Contingency Funds; NYS Announces $30M in Emergency Food Assistance Funds
(Oct. 28, 2025) On Oct. 24th, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to take immediate action to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients receive their November benefits and announced more than $11 million to support emergency food relief, including more than $5 million in Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants awarded to nearly 100 not-for-profit organizations and more than $6 million to support a renewed partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks by funding critical staffing and essential operations at the food banks and their local partners statewide.
As LeadingAge reported on Oct. 24th, House Democrats also sent a letter telling the Trump administration to use SNAP contingency funds to pay for November benefits and citing that they believe the administration has the authority to do so. While the contingency funds would not cover the November benefits in full, the letter urges the USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits.
However, on Oct. 25th, a number of news outlets (Axios, CNN) reported that the Trump administration will not utilize SNAP contingency funds to pay for November benefits. Axios obtained an updated memo from the USDA, which administers SNAP, saying that the contingency funds could not legally be utilized to pay for regular benefits. The memo also notes that states that choose to provide SNAP benefits during the shutdown will not be reimbursed.
Governor Hochul has noted that nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP and could lose their benefits in November without action from the Trump administration, with this being the first time in U.S. history that a federal administration has stopped food assistance during a government shutdown.
On Oct. 27th, Governor Hochul rallied with New Yorkers impacted by cuts to health care, food assistance, and other critical programs – including heating assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program – and announced that she is fast-tracking $30 million in State funds to support over 16 million meals. Additionally, the Governor launched a new website where New Yorkers can share their personal stories about the devastating effects of Washington’s cuts to these critical programs. The new website breaks down the impacts on regions across the state and includes relevant resources available to affected New Yorkers.
If SNAP benefits are terminated on Nov. 1st, affordable senior housing providers will see significant impacts of nutrition benefit lapses at their communities and should leverage food support partnerships where possible. LeadingAge has requested the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allow housing providers to utilize certain funds to cover the costs of meal programs and services during the shutdown.
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866