Trump Vows to Maintain U.S. Food Aid Funding Despite Ongoing Shutdown
Donald Trump has vowed to maintain U.S. food aid funding amid the government shutdown, saying he does not want Americans to “go hungry.” Despite legal uncertainty, courts have ruled that the administration must use contingency funds to sustain the SNAP program, which supports millions of low-income families. The move highlights growing tension over the shutdown’s impact on essential services and food security across the nation.
Rachna Das 
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that his administration is prepared to maintain food aid funding despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. Trump stated that while government lawyers believe they lack the legal authority to continue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments, he is seeking court approval to proceed, emphasizing that he does not want Americans to “go hungry.”
The U.S. government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, has left several federal programs uncertain, including SNAP, which supports more than 42 million low-income Americans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier claimed it could not legally use contingency funds to sustain the program.
However, two federal judges ruled that the administration must use emergency reserves to continue the payments, calling the refusal to do so “arbitrary” and warning of “irreparable harm” to millions of families.
The USDA has been directed to respond to the court orders and decide how to release the funds. As the shutdown continues, Trump’s statement signals a willingness to follow legal guidance to keep food aid running — a move seen as crucial to preventing a nationwide hunger crisis among vulnerable communities.
