By This Is Topeka News Staff
November 5, 2025
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits until what he called the “Radical Left Democrats open up government,” leaving millions of Americans uncertain about their next grocery trip.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that benefits had ballooned “many fold” during President Biden’s term and that the funds would only resume once Congress reopened the government.
The statement came despite a federal court order last month directing the administration to use existing emergency funds to continue payments. The White House confirmed Monday that it would partially comply with the ruling, issuing reduced benefits that could take weeks or months to reach households.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was “fully complying” with the court order but that “it’s going to take some time to receive this money.” She added that the emergency contingency fund being used “is supposed to be for catastrophes or war,” suggesting reluctance to deplete it further.
According to federal data, 41.7 million Americans—about 12.3 percent of the country—relied on SNAP in 2024. In Kansas alone, roughly 180,000 residents depend on the program each month. Local agencies say the ripple effects of delayed or reduced benefits could be felt immediately.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has advised families to check their EBT balances daily but acknowledged that November benefits may arrive later than usual or at lower amounts. Meanwhile, food banks and pantries across Shawnee County report rising calls and walk-ins since news of the funding pause broke.
To help families bridge the gap, Hy-Vee stores across Kansas announced a program offering free hot meals for kids 12 and under through November. Children must be accompanied by an adult, but no purchase is required.
Local organizations such as Harvesters, Breadbasket Food Pantry, and Let’s Help Inc. are urging residents not to wait until benefits lapse to seek help.
“The court said the money exists. Now it’s just a question of how long families have to wait to eat,” one Topeka food-bank volunteer told This Is Topeka.
While the administration insists partial funding will roll out soon, the timeline remains unclear — leaving Kansas families to brace for another round of uncertainty in Washington’s ongoing budget fight.
