This page reflects the news from the federal government shutdown on Sunday, Nov. 2. For the latest updates, read USA TODAY’s live coverage for Monday, Nov. 3.
WASHINGTON – It’s not clear when millions of families will receive their November food aid benefits, even after two federal judges ruled last week that the Trump administration needs to make at least partial payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as the government shutdown continues.
The payments appeared set to stop at the beginning of November, as the shutdown has stretched into a new week. But federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled Oct. 31 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to make at least partial payments.
Both judges said the Trump administration has the option to use certain discretionary money to provide the benefits in full for November. They gave the administration a limited number of days to provide an update on what it’s doing.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that President Donald Trump wants to hear from the courts about how to legally move money around to fund SNAP payments, but he noted during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” that it “could” flow by Wednesday.
“There’s a process that has to be followed,” Bessent said. “So, we’ve got to figure out what the process is.”
The Cabinet secretary also told the outlet that the Trump administration will not appeal the rulings.
Keep up with the latest updates from the USA TODAY Network.
How is the government shutdown impacting national parks?
Federal funding for national parks effectively ran out Sept. 30, leaving the nation’s massive parks system in the lurch.
Yet the nation’s 63 national parks remain largely open, with many roads, trails, lookouts and wilderness areas still accessible. But the shutdown has turned most parks into ghost towns, with little to no staffing or access to amenities and facilities.
While open-air memorials will generally remain open to visitors, according to the National Park Service’s September funding report, indoor attractions such as visitor centers and exhibits remain closed, due in part to low staffing levels.
From Yosemite to Acadia, the latest accessibility updates can be found on the National Park Service website.
The current shutdown is now the second longest in history at 33 days.
The longest shutdown ever lasted 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019, during Trump’s first term.
That means that if the shutdown continues to Election Day, on Nov. 4, the record will tie. If the current impasse lasts longer, it will take the place as the longest shutdown in history.
Yes, Social Security payments, including Supplemental Security Income and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue during a government shutdown.
Because Social Security benefit programs are considered mandatory spending by law, they are not impacted by the lapse in funding appropriations. Payments are still distributed on a regular schedule during the shutdown.
Social Security offices are still open during the shutdown, but only some services are available.
– Sudiksha Kochi and Melina Khan
It’s complicated. TSA officers and FAA air traffic controllers are considered essential employees. So they’re required to work during the shutdown, even as they don’t receive paychecks.
While delay numbers have been fairly low overall, staffing at some air traffic control facilities have led to issues. It’s important to note that not all delays during the shutdown are attributable to the funding lapse. Weather is still a major driver of flight delays, regardless of what’s happening in Washington.
Still, in previous shutdowns, these essential workers have eventually started to call out from work in increasing numbers, which has led to longer security lines and delays at some airports.
– Zach Wichter and Kathleen Wong
SNAP is the largest food assistance program in the country, accounting for about 70% of USDA’s nutrition assistance spending in fiscal year 2024, according to the agency.
However, there are also many other food assistance programs run by the government, such as:
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides services for at-risk children under 5 years old, as well as for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women.
- According to the USDA, WIC served about 6.7 million participants each month in fiscal year 2024, including an estimated 41% of all infants in the United States.
- The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free lunches to children.
- According to the USDA, NSLP provided more than 4.8 billion lunches in fiscal year 2024.
The impacts of the government shutdown on programs like WIC, NSLP and the many others backed by the government vary depending on the program.
– Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Melina Khan
Massachusetts federal Judge Indira Talwani said in a written decision that the government is required to use its contingency funds to the extent they’re needed to keep the SNAP program funded. She also said the administration is allowed to transfer other funds that come from charges on imports to supplement the contingency funds.
Talwani ordered the administration to tell her by Nov. 3 whether it will authorize at least reduced benefits for November and, if it does, its timeline for determining whether it will also authorize full benefits.
Meanwhile, in a short written entry on a case docket Oct. 31, following a court hearing, Rhode Island federal Judge John McConnell ordered the administration to distribute the contingency funds and update him by noon on Nov. 3 on the status of that distribution. The administration followed up on that order with a motion stating that the judge needed to include reasons and better explain what’s required.
McConnell responded with a written order Nov. 1, saying the government needs to use the contingency funds to at least partially fund the November benefits, and has the option of using other available funds. McConnell told the administration to make full payments by Nov. 3, if it plans to use discretionary funds to make that possible. He said if the administration chooses to only make partial payments with the contingency funds, it needs to do that by Nov. 5.
McConnell may have provided an extended deadline for partial payments because the government has said implementing partial payments for the country would require re-working existing systems.
Why is there a government shutdown?
Large segments of the federal government shut down on Oct. 1 because Congress failed to pass a new spending bill to fund the government.
The congressional fight centered on health care. Democrats wanted a bill that would extend subsidies that reduce health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025.
When did the shutdown begin?
The federal government shutdown started on Oct. 1, after Congress failed to pass a bill continuing to fund government operations. Roughly 700,000 federal workers have been furloughed. Hundreds of thousands more are working without pay.
Contributing: Reuters
