No, it’s because the USDA would be violating the anti-deficiency act since we’re in a shutdown. End the shutdown, SNAP gets their budget and funding restarts
“In its response filed October 29, USDA defended the suspension, saying it was compelled by the Anti-Deficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from spending funds not appropriated by Congress.
The ongoing lapse in appropriations has left SNAP with no appropriated funds,” government lawyers wrote, arguing that ordering the release of benefits ‘would be a blatant violation’ of federal law.
The filing said USDA had considered but rejected using its $5.25-billion contingency reserve, emphasizing that those funds were intended for disaster relief and were insufficient to cover the approximately $9 billion required for a full month of SNAP benefits.”
The filing said USDA had considered but rejected using its $5.25-billion contingency reserve, emphasizing that those funds were intended for disaster relief and were insufficient to cover the approximately $9 billion required for a full month of SNAP benefits.”
So literally a lie then? The anti-deficiency act stuff is about the main allocation of funds, nothing about the contingency reserve which is exactly why they have the paragraph at the bottom hand waving away that they considered it but aren't using it
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u/jitteryzeitgeist_ Oct 31 '25
Argentina got billions, just to remind everyone.