Tag Archives: supplemental nutrition assistance program

(Column) No veteran should go hungry

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According to U. S. government data and recent policy studies, nearly 25% of America’s veterans live either below the federal poverty level or paycheck to paycheck, with little margin for unexpected expenses. To get by, many adopt emergency-level budgets. But even the harshest austerity measures may not be enough. Life at the bottom still costs money. Mortgages and rent must be paid. Vehicles are needed to reach work or medical appointments. So, what can be cut? Too often, it’s food-eating less or sacrificing nutrition. Tragically, many veterans and their families face this choice every day. The latest data from the U. S. Department of Agriculture shows that 7. 5% of veterans-about 1. 5 million-are hungry or food insecure. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that those ages 65-74 are now most at risk, a shift from only a few years ago when 55- to 64-year-olds faced the highest rates. The picture grows bleaker within subgroups. Nearly 1 in 5 women veterans, many raising children, report food insecurity. More than a third of disabled working-age veterans struggle to feed themselves. These aren’t abstractions-they’re neighbors, family and friends. VA disability benefits are often treated as unearned income for the purposes of means testing in some federal programs. But these benefits were never meant to be treated as a paycheck. They were designed to offset the extra costs of living with a disability. In programs where they are counted toward income limits, this classification can unfairly block many veterans from receiving assistance through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP can provide essential short-term relief, adding protein, vegetables, and fruit to meals. Yet because disability benefits often push veterans over the income threshold too many are excluded. According to RAND, only 4. 9% of food-insecure veterans in the U. S. received SNAP assistance in 2023. It is a failure of our system when individuals who served this country bravely and honorably-so that others could pursue the American dream-now face malnutrition and hunger. On Veterans Day, crowds gather to give speeches and host parades honoring those who wore the uniform with fierce pride. But veterans can’t eat their pride. On Thanksgiving, we sit down to abundant meals of turkey, vegetables, and homemade desserts, raising a toast to those who secured our freedoms. But veterans can’t eat our thanks. Rather than simply thanking veterans for their service, we can show our gratitude through meaningful action. Immediate steps taken today can make a difference-from supporting or volunteering with trusted organizations like DAV’s Volunteer for Veterans program, to helping at local veteran food pantries and nutrition centers, or urging elected officials to ensure veterans and their families do not go hungry through efforts like DAV’s Commander’s Action Network. These frontline actions have a direct and lasting impact on veterans’ lives. Veterans stood up for us; now it’s our turn to stand up for them. Through awareness, advocacy, and community support, we can work toward a future where all veterans live safe, healthy lives-free from hunger. Now that’s something to give thanks for. Coleman Nee is a service-connected disabled Marine veteran currently serving as National Commander of DAV (Disabled American Veterans). He previously held positions as Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services and on DAV’s National Executive Committee.
https://enewscourier.com/2025/11/22/column-no-veteran-should-go-hungry/

SNAP Benefits Funding Divides Supreme Court

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**Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Opposes Supreme Court Stay on SNAP Funding Amid Shutdown**

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson broke from the majority on the nation’s highest court, indicating she would have denied the Trump administration’s request to stay court orders requiring the government to fully fund SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court extended a stay of the order, initially granted on November 7, through 11:59 p.m. on November 13. The released order noted that Justice Jackson would have denied both the extension and the original request for a stay. No other justices were named as dissenting.

**Why It Matters**

The Trump administration made headlines when it ceased distributing SNAP funds after October, citing the ongoing government shutdown that began October 1—the longest in United States history. About 1 in 8 Americans receive SNAP benefits, making the program a lifeline for over 40 million people.

Following the shutdown, several lawsuits were filed. Judges initially ruled that the government must at least partially fund SNAP, a decision the Trump administration accepted. The situation escalated when a judge later ordered full funding to resume, prompting the administration to seek a stay from the Supreme Court. The administration argued that fully funding the program would require tapping into emergency reserves earmarked for other situations.

On Monday, an appeals court mandated that full funding resume the following night. However, the Supreme Court handed down an extension of the stay before the order could take effect.

**Key Developments**

Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the motion to stay the orders on November 7. In his application, Sauer wrote:

> “Given the imminent, irreparable harms posed by these orders, which require the government to transfer an estimated $4 billion by tonight, the Solicitor General respectfully requests an immediate administrative stay of the orders pending the resolution of this application by no later than 9:30 p.m. this evening.”

Sauer also stated that the government had exhausted the entirety of its SNAP contingency reserve—over $5 billion—which would only be enough for partial payments in November. He warned:

> “If allowed to stand, this decision will metastasize and sow further shutdown chaos. Every beneficiary of a federal program could run into court, point to an agency’s general discretion to prioritize funding, and claim that failing to prioritize their chosen program was arbitrary and capricious.”

Respondents’ attorneys countered that over 40 million Americans reliant on SNAP had gone more than a week without essential assistance for food:

> “Any further stay would prolong that irreparable harm and add to the chaos the government has unleashed, with lasting impacts on the administration of SNAP. The government has offered no defensible justification for that result. The administrative stay should be terminated, and no further stay should be granted.”

**What People Are Saying**

Solicitor General Sauer further argued:

> “The district court is commandeering sensitive funding-allocation decisions in the middle of a shutdown, in ways that frustrate efforts to end that shutdown and result in new appropriations for all of these programs. Instead of allowing Congress to do that work, the district court’s order directs USDA to redirect billions of dollars from one program to another, with no means available to recoup those funds once soon spent. This Court has not hesitated to intervene in similar cases where the lower courts have commandeered the Executive’s prerogatives over allocating limited resources.”

Meanwhile, attorneys for the respondents contended:

> “The government’s remaining claim of irreparable harm, that the district court’s orders are interfering with negotiation tactics in the government shutdown, only confirms what has been clear all along—that the government is leveraging SNAP to gain partisan political advantage in the shutdown fight. This Court should not participate in that effort. There is no justification for the Court to step in to stop needed benefits from flowing to the children, seniors, low-wage workers, veterans, and others who rely on them for food.”

**What Happens Next**

The Supreme Court’s stay is currently set to expire on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. The outcome will determine whether tens of millions will see their SNAP benefits restored, or if the chaos and uncertainty will continue.

*This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.*
https://www.newsweek.com/snap-benefits-funding-divides-supreme-court-11035669

St. Johns County Will Give $200,000 to Food Pantries for Food Stamps Emergency and Suspend Utility Disconnections

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The St. Johns County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously supported County Administrator Joy Andrews’s recommendation to appropriate $200,000 from the county’s emergency reserves to local food pantries through its Health and Human Services Department.

The commission also approved suspending water utility disconnections for non-payment through the end of November.

These actions come in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement, made at President Trump’s direction, that it would not issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamp, benefits starting Nov. 1, despite a federal judge’s order to do so.

The $200,000 appropriation will enable food pantries to buy and distribute food to St. Johns residents experiencing food insecurity due to the federal shutdown. Funds will be administered through the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), in coordination with local nonprofits, to ensure broad community coverage.

Currently, no similar plans have been discussed by any local governments in neighboring Flagler County. Meanwhile, Flagler Broadcasting is holding its annual Food-A-Thon this Friday on its radio stations to raise $100,000 for the Grace Community Food Pantry. This initiative may allow local governments in Flagler County to avoid assuming broader financial responsibility for food assistance.

According to data from the Associated Press based on 2023 figures, about 7.4 percent of Flagler County households receive food stamps, compared to approximately 4.5 percent in St. Johns County.

“A lapse in these federal benefits may create a sudden and severe food insecurity for over 9,700 low-income residents in our community,” said Andrews. “The County has established a $20 million emergency reserve fund this fiscal year to respond to emergencies such as this. One of the priorities of our Strategic Plan is Community Well-Being, and this response to this emergency is an example of the County’s continued compassion towards those in need within our community.”

Andrews had sent a memo to commissioners earlier this week outlining the proposal. She introduced the recommendation at the very end of Tuesday’s five-and-a-half-hour commission meeting. The item was not on the official agenda. Since the appropriation exceeded $5,000, approval would have normally required prior agenda inclusion—unless the commission waived the rule.

The commission unanimously agreed to waive the rule and then unanimously approved the motion to appropriate the funds and suspend water disconnections until the end of November.

“We can always come back and revisit this. We have a meeting every two weeks,” Andrews added.

St. Johns County’s HHS continues to evaluate the capacity and needs of local food pantry organizations. According to a county release, plans to provide funds to local food pantries, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to purchase and distribute food will be publicly announced as they are finalized.

While HHS will not be directly distributing food, the department will support community partners who provide these vital services to residents in need.
https://flaglerlive.com/st-johns-food-pantries/

Judge orders Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November by Friday

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A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November by Friday, rejecting the administration’s plan to partially fund the food stamp program for 42 million Americans.

“People have gone without for too long,” Judge Jack McConnell said during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island as he issued the order.

The decision came after plaintiffs in the case urged Judge McConnell to reject the administration’s proposed plan for partial benefits. The Trump administration had announced last week that it would not use a congressionally authorized contingency fund containing $4.65 billion to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Like other federal programs, SNAP had no current appropriation because Congress has not approved a stopgap funding bill to reopen the U.S. government. As a result, the payment of full benefits was in question until the judge’s order.

The ruling ensures that millions of Americans who rely on SNAP will receive their full benefits for November.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/06/snap-trump-food-stamps-shutdown.html

Feeding Florida is increasing relief efforts for those missing SNAP benefits during government shutdown

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Yet another nonprofit food bank organization is stepping up to help Floridians during the federal government shutdown that has disrupted federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Feeding Florida is deploying increased volunteers to help ensure families, seniors, and veterans get essential sustenance every day.

These volunteers are helping to put food on the tables of the needy through the organization’s statewide network of food banks and more than 2,000 partners, officials said.

“Our mission is to make sure no Floridian goes hungry, especially in times of uncertainty,” said Robin Safley, CEO of Feeding Florida. “Our nine food banks and more than 2,400 partner pantries have already mobilized, expanding distributions across the state to meet the growing demand for food assistance.”

Feeding Florida officials report that about 3 million people in the state are beneficiaries of SNAP programs. These programs were always designed to provide a temporary lifeline each month. But without that stable resource, the ripple effect on the state could lead to weakened communities, gaps in nutrition, faltering health, and damage to local learning and economies.

They warn that recovery from the SNAP shutdown can be costly.

“Feeding Florida’s network can increase distribution by up to 300% during emergencies,” Safley said. “The challenge isn’t moving food, it’s having enough food to fill the pipeline. We need everyone—leaders, communities, and partners—to work together to keep food flowing to every corner of Florida.”

Feeding Florida is asking for donations to help increase relief efforts.

Feeding Florida is an offshoot of Feeding America, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, a national nonprofit leader in hunger relief efforts.

Feeding Florida’s efforts to help in the absence of SNAP benefits are similar to those of Farm Share. This organization also increased volunteer efforts last week, working with hundreds of food bank partners across the state.

Founded in 1991, Farm Share is a nonprofit that retrieves unused food from Florida farms and distributes that produce to needy families at locations across the Sunshine State. It is the largest food bank in Florida and the third-largest in the United States.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/763927-feeding-florida-is-increasing-relief-efforts-for-those-missing-snap-benefits-during-government-shutdown/

Johnson raises shutdown stakes on Schumer as food stamp deadline, Obamacare cliff loom

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Speaker Mike Johnson is increasing pressure on Senate Democrats by keeping the House out of session for a sixth consecutive week amid the ongoing government shutdown—the second-longest in U.S. history. With less than a week before potentially surpassing the 2018-2019 shutdown record of nearly 35 days, the stalemate continues.

Senate Democrats have rejected the GOP’s short-term federal funding plan 13 times. While some signs of compromise are beginning to emerge, leaders on both sides have yet to signal any flexibility in their positions. Meanwhile, funding for critical programs that millions of American families rely on is expected to run out this weekend. The Senate is set to leave Washington until Monday after once again failing to pass the funding bill.

**Battleground Republicans Hold the Line as Johnson Pressures Democrats on Shutdown**

Federal dollars for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to run dry starting Saturday, putting food stamp benefits at risk for approximately 42 million Americans. Funding for the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), which supports pregnant mothers and children under age five, is also in danger despite earlier funding adjustments during the Trump administration.

Additionally, the Head Start program, which provides childcare support for low-income families with young children, is likely to exhaust its funding this weekend.

The Republicans’ proposal, a continuing resolution (CR), calls for a mostly flat seven-week extension of current federal funding levels. It also includes $88 million in security funding for lawmakers, the White House, and the judicial branch—an allocation with bipartisan support.

However, Democrats in both the House and Senate have expressed outrage over being excluded from federal funding negotiations. They have been advocating for an extension of Obamacare subsidies enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These enhancements are set to expire by the end of 2025 unless Congress acts.

Republican leaders have shown willingness to discuss reforming and enhancing these healthcare credits but are rejecting Democrats’ demand to include them in the CR. Democrats hope that the looming open enrollment period, also starting Saturday, may pressure Republicans into concessions.

Since passing the bill on September 19, Johnson has kept the House out of session. Democrats have criticized this move nearly every day, accusing the GOP leader of keeping Republicans “on vacation” while the government remains shut down.

In response, Johnson insists the House cannot resume work until Democrats agree to end the shutdown. Instead, he has directed Republicans to stay in their districts to communicate the shutdown’s impact and assist constituents in navigating the challenges it presents.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-raises-shutdown-stakes-schumer-food-stamp-deadline-obamacare-cliff-loom

The 2025 November Elections Preview

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A Breakdown of the Races in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey

Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Happy Tuesday!

A new app, Endless Summer, uses AI to generate images of you vacationing in places you’ve never been. Finally: a way to show off on Instagram without the authenticity or pleasure of a real holiday.

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**Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories**

President Donald Trump met this morning with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, signing a rare earth minerals deal with the country. Reuters reported that Takaichi is set to announce new purchases of trucks, gas, and soybeans from the U.S., along with a new shipbuilding deal.

This comes ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, a discussion he hopes will yield a trade deal. The U.S. and China agreed to a framework for a deal on Sunday that addresses export curbs and tariffs, but the specific terms have yet to be finalized.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-sanctioned media reported Monday that Chinese fighter jets conducted “confrontation drills” near Taiwan. Taiwan’s defense ministry did not report any incidents and dismissed the news as a propaganda tactic. A Taiwanese general told Fox News that China’s military drills could be preparations for a blockade against the island.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson warned on Monday that the government could not reallocate federal funds to temporarily sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

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**Insights and Opinions**

– Kyla Scanlon discusses how the American economy is coming to resemble a casino. *(New York Times)*
– Matthew Hennessey argues it’s the worst time to be a jewel thief. *(Wall Street Journal)*
– John Cassidy writes that Trump’s pardon of Binance’s founder shows presidential power going unchecked. *(The New Yorker)*
– Austin Vernon explores the feasibility of returning to a “nuclear fission regulatory blank slate.” *(Substack)*

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**International Headlines**

– BBC: Trump says he had a “perfect” MRI at Walter Reed Hospital.
– 8NewsNow: Director of Las Vegas Committee Tackling DUI Issues Faces DUI Charge.
– Rudaw: Iraqi Husband Uses Own Picture on Wife’s Campaign Posters.

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**About Our Reporters**

**Charles Hilu** is a reporter for The Dispatch based in Washington, D.C. Before joining the company in 2024, he was the Collegiate Network Fellow at the Washington Free Beacon and interned at both National Review and the Washington Examiner. When he is not chasing down lawmakers on Capitol Hill, he is probably listening to show tunes or following the premier sports teams of the University of Michigan and the city of Detroit.

**Peter Gattuso** is a Morning Dispatch reporter for The Dispatch, also based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the company in 2024, he interned at The Dispatch, National Review, the Cato Institute, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Peter is not fact-checking, he is probably watching baseball, listening to music on vinyl records, or discussing the Jones Act.

**Ross Anderson** is the Editor of The Morning Dispatch, based in London. Prior to joining the company in 2025, he was an editor at The Spectator, columnist at The New York Sun, and a Tablet fellow. When Ross isn’t working on TMD, he’s probably trying out new tech, lifting weights, or hanging out with his cat, Teddy.

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