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The Trump administration has sparked a nationwide controversy after ordering states to retract full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for November and instead issue only 65% of the usual benefits. The move, announced in a late-night memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has deepened confusion among state officials and millions of families relying on food assistance during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The memo, signed by Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of the USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, stated that any state issuing full November payments had done so “without authorization.” It further warned that states failing to comply could face financial penalties, including suspension of federal administrative funding and potential liability for “overissued” benefits.

The USDA’s directive followed a whirlwind week of legal and political battles. On Thursday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the administration to pay full SNAP benefits, ruling that the government’s plan to provide only partial funding was unlawful. The administration appealed, but the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rejected its emergency injunction request. Hours later, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a temporary pause on the lower court’s ruling, creating yet another layer of uncertainty.

As of Friday, at least seven states—including New York, California, and Illinois—had already distributed full SNAP benefits to some recipients, according to the Associated Press. The USDA’s new order now leaves state agencies scrambling to “undo” those payments, a process that experts say may be nearly impossible without disrupting aid for millions.

The total cost of full November benefits is estimated at roughly $8 billion, according to USDA data. The administration has so far declined to use a $4.65 billion contingency fund, saying it will only issue 65% of the benefits while continuing to appeal the court ruling.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., sharply criticized the administration’s decision on social media, writing, “The cruelty is the point. It is their choice to do this.” Hunger advocacy groups echoed that sentiment, warning that the cuts could push millions of low-income households deeper into food insecurity as the holiday season approaches.

The SNAP program, which supports more than 42 million Americans, is one of several federal programs affected by the government shutdown that began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass a spending bill. Historically, previous administrations have continued funding essential food programs during shutdowns to avoid disruption.

With the Senate recently advancing a preliminary agreement to reopen the government, there is renewed hope that full benefits could soon be restored. However, until a final budget resolution is reached, families depending on SNAP are left in limbo—facing uncertainty about how they will afford groceries in the weeks ahead.

The USDA and the White House have not provided any additional clarification or timeline for restoring full benefits, leaving both state officials and recipients anxiously waiting for answers.