CalFresh benefits will be distributed partially for the month of November, with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distributing half of the federal funding usually allotted for all eligible households, according to Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for the food, nutrition and consumer services of the United States, in a court filing on Monday.
This statement comes after federal judges ordered the Trump administration to find a way to find money for SNAP funding. The funding issue comes amid the government shutdown, which has caused SNAP funding to run out last Saturday.
READ MORE: Federal judges order Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits
The Food and Nutrition Service will take $4.65 billion from the contingency fund in order to provide these partial benefits, according to the statement. There will be no funding for SNAP applicants who get approved in November.
Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday morning threatening to defy the court order, according to The New York Times. His post said that SNAP benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, spoke a few hours later, clarifying that the administration will be “fully complying” with the court order.
“We’re complying with the court’s order, and we’re getting that partial payment out the door as much as we can, and as quickly as we can, but it’s going to take some time,” Leavitt said, as previously reported by The New York Times.
READ MORE: Cal Poly Food Pantry sees 25% surge in visits amid growing food insecurity
Leavitt said it will take time for SNAP recipients to get the money since the White House was put into a “very untenable position.” Leavitt said they are taking from a contingency fund that is supposed to be for war, catastrophe and war.
“The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future. And that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
Several cities and nonprofits filed a motion Tuesday wanting the court to force USDA to distribute the $8 billion needed for all November benefits, instead of the partial benefits, as previously reported by POLITICO.
CalFresh Outreach program manager calls the Trump Administration ‘sinister’
CalFresh Outreach program manager Liv Watts said about 6,300 Cal Poly students rely on CalFresh benefits, with the collective group receiving more than $1.8 million per month to distribute to that group.
With the funding reduction, Watts estimates to receive $900,000 or less to distribute to eligible students, but emphasized this is an estimate as they have not received updates from their funder, the California Department of Social Services.
Watts is infuriated and deeply concerned for those who rely on the benefits.
“For the Trump Administration to inflict anxiety, stress, and suffering willingly and unnecessarily unto SNAP recipients is sinister,” Watts wrote in an email to Mustang News. “I anticipate that many, many students will be skipping meals until their benefits are reinstated.”
READ MORE: Government shutdown may delay CalFresh benefits for students
The court filing explains how the system changes needed to reduce the amount of money offered could cause this process to take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
There was a consideration to take part of the funds that are usually allocated to the Child Nutrition Program, but the USDA determined that this is an unacceptable risk, according to the statement.
“Shifting $4 billion dollars to America’s SNAP population merely shifts the problem to millions of America’s low-income children that receive their meals at school,” the statement read.
READ MORE: New federal rules and CalFresh funding cuts may leave Cal Poly students without food assistance
Watts suggested that students in need apply for a Cal Poly Cares Grant which provided limited financial assistance to those experiencing temporary hardships. Watts said that she is appalled by the Trump Administration disconnect with the working class.
“The Trump Administration has made calculated decisions that have real, irreparable consequences for low-income households,” Watts wrote in an email to Mustang News.
Partial funding causing extra stress on Cal Poly student
Mathematics senior Anthony Glover said while it is nice to get some money, it is not the full amount. He said it can be difficult to afford groceries in California and the partial funding will make it difficult later in the month.
“I’m trying to be a lot more independent my fourth year but due to the shutdown, I had to ask my parents and family for money just to ensure I do get food,” Glover said. “Fortunately I have that ability to ask family but I know that others don’t.”
Glover said this situation brings a little bit of anxiety.
“It’s going to be Thanksgiving and you aren’t sure if you’re going to be able to provide yourself meals at that time,” Glover said. “Especially during holidays, it does become a bit troublesome mentally.”
