SNAP latest: Trump Admin. says Wisconsin should return payments
Trump Admin. says Wisconsin should return payments
Following a ruling from SCOTUS, the USDA is now asking states, including Wisconsin, to return the SNAP payments that were already distributed.
MADISON, Wis. - President Donald Trump's administration is demanding states "undo" full SNAP benefits paid out under judges' orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans.
Appeals court ruling to SCOTUS ruling
What we know:
The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of "catastrophic operational disruptions" if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay.
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Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states.
SNAP latest: SCOTUS issues emergency order temporarily blocking full funding for aid program
A federal appeals court had left an order in place that required the Trump administration to provide full SNAP benefits for November amid a U.S. government shutdown.
But, even before it won a stay on those rulings through an appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday night, the Trump administration balked at reimbursing states for the initial round of SNAP payments. Wisconsin, for example, loaded benefits onto cards for 700,000 residents, but after the U.S. Treasury froze its reimbursements to the state, it anticipates running out of money by Monday, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration warned in a lengthy statement on Sunday.
The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned. "States could face demands to return hundreds of millions of dollars in the aggregate," the filing at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals says.
That situation "would risk catastrophic operational disruptions for the States, with a consequent cascade of harms for their residents," the filing concludes.
Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)
USDA letter
What we know:
That filing arrived as the Department of Agriculture on Saturday told states it would now consider any payments made last week to be "unauthorized."
"To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized," Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors. "Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025."
Evers issued a quick response to the Trump administration’s demand.
"No," the governor said in a statement.
"Pursuant to and consistent with an active court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards, ensuring nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, had access to basic food and groceries," Evers said. "After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available.’ They have failed to do so to date."
Wisconsin Capitol, Madison
"It's going to be hard"
What they're saying:
"It's going to be hard out here for these families," said Corman Ramsey, a Milwaukee grandmother.
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"I was fearful and I think the community was fearful too," added Anita Garrett of Milwaukee.
"The basic response of the USDA is the states could go back into the bank accounts and take the money out," said Kari Murray, a Marquette University law professor. "But what if people have already spent the benefit?"
Murray says states are now in an impossible position while waiting for the First Circuit Court to rule on the appeal.
"Either they can take a penalty on the administrative costs associated with the program – about 25% – or they can wait until Monday before they start taking money out of people’s accounts to see what the First Circuit Court says," Murray explained.
Uncertainty remains
Big picture view:
An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000, although many receive less than that under a formula that takes into consideration their income. For many SNAP participants, it remains unclear exactly how much they will receive this month, and when they will receive it.
Benefits are provided to individuals on different days of the month. Those who normally receive benefits on the third, fifth or seventh of the month should receive their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours of funds becoming available, the Michigan agency said, and others should receive their full benefits on their regularly scheduled dates.
The Source: Information from this post was provided by previous FOX reporting, the USDA, and a news release from the Evers Administration. The Associated Press also contributed to this article.