New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said Sunday that SNAP benefits went out to New Yorkers using federal funds after the longest-ever federal government shutdown cut off food stamp payments for the first time.
The first payments were released Sunday — nine days after the food payments were stopped, the governor’s office told The Post.
Roughly 2.9 million New Yorkers rely on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program — also known as food stamps — and Hochul defended the move as necessary due to “chaos and confusion” over the federal shutdown.
The payments could contadict orders from the US Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP. On Saturday, the federal agency said that any full payments for November made by states to beneficiaries were “unauthoritized.”
Instead, the agency said, state should pay just 65% of SNAP benefits for the month. Any full payments should be clawed back from beneficiaries, Politico reported.
“While Donald Trump has fought relentlessly to keep food off New Yorkers’ tables, families who rely on SNAP can finally breathe a sigh of relief as benefits begin to arrive,” Hochul said in a statement on X Sunday.
“I’ll never stop fighting for New Yorkers or holding Republicans in Washington accountable,” she said.
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Never miss a story.
While the state administers SNAP, the benefits are paid for with federal funds.
An outside vendor actually transits the benefits onto recipients’ electronic benefit cards, said Hochul spokeswoman Jen Goodman.
“The federal government is paying for it,” Goodman said.
“Let me be clear, President Trump is hellbent on preventing millions of Americans from putting food on the table,” Hochul said on Friday.
“He’s made decision after decision to withhold funding that feeds families, seniors and children — and continues doubling down on this cruelty by challenging the courts’ clear orders.”
Hochul’s announcement Friday came after Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) announced she would run against Hochul in the 2026 election, with some polls suggesting the race could be neck-and-neck.
The Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP, has informed states last week that it is seeking to fully pay out SNAP benefits during November despite a funding lapse caused by the government shutdown.
But last week, the Trump administration appealed a court order requiring it to fully fund SNAP by Friday of last week, as the move would’ve forced the Department of Agriculture to dip into other programs besides the contingency fund.
On Friday, the Supreme Court temporarily paused that lower court order.
The average household on SNAP gets $332 per month, and the average household with children gets about $575.
While the Trump administration scrambles to find a makeshift avenue to fund SNAP, Republicans argue that fully restoring payments is simple: Democrats just have to vote for the government funding bill to reopen the government.
The administration also ruled out the use of Child Nutrition Program funds to finance SNAP during the lapse due to uncertainty over whether Congress would replenish that money. CNP and the contingency fund have roughly enough money to keep SNAP afloat for all of November
SNAP, which helps feed some 42 million Americans, costs $8.5 to $9 billion each month.
Various states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, have announced plans to fully fund the critical food program, while other states such as Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota, have rolled out partial benefits.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1 due to a stalemate over how to fund the government.
Advertisement