Millions of Americans reliant on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may soon find relief as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that benefits could restart as early as Wednesday.
The statement, made during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, follows two key federal court rulings directing the Trump administration to release emergency funds to keep the program running during the ongoing government shutdown.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on if the Trump Administration will use emergency funds to cover SNAP benefits.
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) November 2, 2025
BESSENT: "There's a process that has to be followed. So, we got to figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food… pic.twitter.com/MpyTqQBktq
On Friday, judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island issued orders requiring the administration to use emergency resources to fund SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to over 42 million Americans.
U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island instructed that the payments be made “as soon as possible,” while Judge Indira Talwani of Boston gave the administration until Monday to confirm whether it will authorize at least partial payments for November.
The administration had originally planned to suspend SNAP benefits beginning November 1, raising fears of widespread food insecurity among low-income families, seniors, and children who depend on the program.
Also See: SNAP Uncertainty Deepens Hunger Fears as $400 Billion in U.S. Food Goes to Waste Each Year
However, the court’s intervention, combined with political pressure and public concern, has shifted the situation.
Treasury Secretary Bessent confirmed that the administration would not appeal the rulings. “There’s a process that has to be followed,” Bessent said.
“We’ve got to figure out what the process is, but finding the funds by Wednesday could be done.” His remarks suggest that while bureaucratic and logistical hurdles remain, the Treasury Department is actively working to identify available emergency funding to restore benefits without further delay.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on the matter through a Truth Social post late Friday, signaling a willingness to comply with the court’s decision.
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” Trump wrote.
“Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
The dispute over SNAP funding underscores the broader impact of the government shutdown, which has disrupted multiple public assistance programs and delayed payments to millions of Americans.
The potential reinstatement of SNAP benefits by midweek offers a measure of hope for struggling households but also highlights the fragility of essential social safety nets during political standoffs.
If the Treasury successfully releases funds by Wednesday, it would mark a critical step in mitigating the immediate effects of the shutdown on vulnerable families. Still, advocates warn that unless a long-term funding solution is reached, similar crises could resurface in the future.
For now, millions of Americans wait anxiously – hoping that the promised restart of SNAP benefits will indeed arrive in time to keep food on their tables.
