The Threats Continue: Trump Administration Demands States “undo” work to send full food stamps

In late-night guidance, the Agriculture Department also threatened financial penalties against states.

Yes, the Trump administration has demanded that states "immediately undo" any actions to provide full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamp, benefits for November 2025, a directive issued amid a government shutdown and a related legal battle. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a memo to state SNAP directors after the Supreme Court temporarily paused lower court orders that had mandated the full payment of benefits. The administration now considers any full payments made under those previous court orders to be "unauthorized". The memo from Patrick Penn, the deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, warned states that non-compliance could result in penalties, including the cancellation of federal administrative costs or holding states liable for "overissuances". 

Several states, including Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and California, had already begun issuing full benefits to millions of residents following the initial lower court rulings. Governors of some of these states, such as Wisconsin's Tony Evers and Maryland's Wes Moore, have publicly pushed back against the federal directive, with Evers' office simply responding "No" in a statement. 
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The situation has created chaos and uncertainty for the 42 million Americans who rely on the program for groceries, with some states warning of "catastrophic operational disruptions". The legal battle is ongoing, as the case is expected to be further reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.