Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with attorneys general from 22 other states and the District of Columbia, has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeking clarification on how it will handle Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding as the federal government shutdown continues.

The letter was addressed to the USDA’s Acting Associate Administrator for SNAP after the department warned that funding for critical nutrition programs may soon lapse. The attorneys general expressed concern about the impact this could have on vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and veterans who rely on food assistance.

“SNAP helps feed 1.4 million Michiganders, and without it, families would face impossible choices between paying rent, buying medicine, or putting food on the table,” said Nessel. “The Trump Administration should use all available funds to ensure SNAP benefits are not paused and be upfront about how they plan to move forward so Americans continue receiving the support they need during this time of uncertainty.”

On October 10, 2025, USDA notified state agencies that if the government shutdown continued, there would not be enough funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million people nationwide. The USDA also instructed states to delay sending their November benefit files to EBT vendors until further notice.

The attorneys general argue that this directive was issued without legal explanation or justification. They note that while USDA does have some authority under certain circumstances to reduce or suspend benefits, no legal basis for such action was cited in its communication.

They also point out that USDA has access to several billion dollars in contingency reserve funds appropriated by Congress for emergencies like this one. According to the letter, these funds should be used to continue providing SNAP benefits instead of directing states to halt already-calculated payments. Additionally, Section 32 funds could potentially be tapped during the ongoing shutdown.

The letter warns that following through with USDA’s instructions would harm millions of Americans and create hardship for those who depend on SNAP for daily meals. Even a temporary disruption is expected to negatively affect both individuals and the national economy.

In Michigan alone, nearly 13% of households—about 1.4 million people—receive SNAP benefits. Of these recipients, approximately 43% are families with children and 36% are families with elderly or disabled members; around 40,000 veterans in Michigan also receive assistance through SNAP.

The attorneys general have requested answers from USDA by October 27 regarding whether contingency funds remain available from previous appropriations; what other sources of funding exist; whether these resources will be used for SNAP benefits; why states were told to hold issuance files rather than reduce allotments; and how states should interpret USDA’s latest guidance under federal regulations.

Residents with questions about their SNAP benefits are encouraged to contact their local Michigan Department of Health & Human Services office or check MI Bridges for updates. Additional help can be found by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting Find Help - Michigan 2-1-1 for referrals to local food programs and support services. Information about nearby food banks is available through the Food Bank Council of Michigan website.

Joining Attorney General Nessel in sending this letter were attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.