The shutdown will halt about $8 billion a month in federal food assistance. Walmart captures 24% of all SNAP shopper spending, according to Numerator’s 2025 SNAP Evolution report—triple Kroger’s share and far ahead of Costco, Amazon and Sam’s Club.
Walmart was the first retailer to accept SNAP online in all 50 states in 2023 and launched the Walmart+ Assist program, which offers half-price memberships for those receiving aid.
“If SNAP payments stop, spending by the lowest income groups will fall,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of data and analytics firm GlobalData. “Walmart gets a plurality of the spending, so it will be hit the hardest.”
This was somewhat epiphanic for me.
I already recognized companies such as Walmart were subsidizing pay through social programs such as SNAP and essential funneling/laundering tax payer money to their executives.
This headline made me further realize they’re not only making taxpayers subsidize wages, they’ve also effectively turned the USD into a form of company scrip. While that scrip can be spent at some other locations I bet a large percent of funneled right back to e.g. Walmart itself. If you already work at Walmart it makes spending your SNAP benefit there easier.
I dunno why it says “If SNAP goes dark” becuase it already did go dark. It’s already been a week woth no payments and it looks like nothing is going to change that. SNAP has already “gone dark”.
California is paying full SNAP benefits starting this morning. California cares. Trump, Mike Johnson, and The entire GOP couldn’t give less fucks about anyone else.
It’s the Democrats fault because they won’t cancel health care so we have to cancel food assistance - every republican I know
judges are forcing the USDA to pay snap this month… latest ruling was by today.
it’s not dark yet
Judge says something.
Trump admin says “no lol”
naive oversimplification
Is it? What is the more nuanced view?
Trump administration: “Good! Maybe some of those poors will die and save us the trouble of removing their tents!” [roflol]
the USDA is operated by thousands of people, the head is appointed by trump.
if the head of the usda is facing jail for contempt vs maybe getting fired, he’ll fund snap.
and that’s exactly what happened today, ebt was funded. trump is appealing but the money is there.
my state funded it and was waiting for a commitment by the usda, apparently they got it.
trump and his administration have complied with other court orders, they’ve defied some… but they eventually give in when appeals run out.
a big part of the shutdown is that they’ve slipped in legislation to strip judges of their powers to enforce their orders… such as nationwide injunctions, holding people in contempt, and sending federal marshals out to arrest people in contempt of court… they currently still have those powers.
it’s quite complicated.
Was it the head of the USDA withholding funds? I was under the impression that the administration said there were no funds, and then there was no way to release the funds, and then that it would be too complex to do so with any expediency.
Why are they appealing the ruling, do you think?
The head of the USDA does what Trump says or she gets fired… but she’s still the one with direct control.
The USDA already has a contingency fund, for this very sort of thing. They were refusing to fund SNAP until a judge forced them too…. they had this money set aside before the government shutdown, and December is still uncertain.
Why they’re appealing it is, id assume, what they’ve been saying about hating all social safety net type programs, and really it’s about rich people paying taxes….
they’re vindictive enough to use any opportunity to fuck with any program as much as they can get away with…
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/usda-tells-states-snap-benefits-shutdown-00642403
Is it? SNAP hasn’t been paid to anyone yet.
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Some states were able to use some state funds to pay some SNAP recipients. My family hasn’t gotten anything at all in NY state.
nope….
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/usda-tells-states-snap-benefits-shutdown-00642403
idk last I heard he was still trying to defy that court order so I’ll believe it when I fucking see it
The only naive oversimplification here is believing that when the USDA is ordered to do something by a judge that means Trump automatically does it.
Snap is dark. There was a court order to turn on the lights. Those lights have not turned on yet. Don’t be pedantic if you can’t bring the receipts.
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But that is exactly what is happening. They are ignoring the courts.
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https://www.newsweek.com/snap-tracker-states-that-have-paid-benefits-november-11010336
Only 8 states have been funded…and as quoted in the article, “although it remains unclear when full benefits will be paid and where the funding will come from”.
So no, it isn’t clear at all if it is being federally funded, or if the states are banking on getting paid back.
So please refrain from sounding like “I got mine so fuck off”
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/usda-tells-states-snap-benefits-shutdown-00642403
nice way to rephrase what i’m saying into something selfish when all that i’m saying is you’re arrogantly wrong….
you went from “none never” to “only 8 have been funded so far”.
yeah they’re all funded each state has to figure out how to handle that because it’s state implemented
As of yesterday, I knew of none that were funded, hence my statement.
That article was posted just a few hours ago. When I read the article, and then researched more, I then stated 8 states. I learned new information and updated my stance. As I quoted as well, even the states don’t know when or where the funds are coming from, just that they are choosing to fund it, which is why not every state has funded the benefit.
No state has received full funding for their snap/ebt as of this morning. Some funds are being released by the federal government to states but not fully, not uniformly, and with serious delay. I can’t find any credible evidence that anyone has definitely received their full November benefits as scheduled. In fact, the USDA has told states they can’t fund the cards and then be reimbursed by the federal government under current rules and the USDA has stated, as of this morning, that they will not fully fund benefits due to the shutdown.
I don’t believe you are telling the truth.
https://www.google.com/search?q=oregon+ebt+paid+today
i think you have too much faith in your own ability to research things.
It’s not. This has literally been government policy for 2025.
they have defied and appealed rulings, some have been upheld and complied with….
what you’re talking about is what they want to do and one reason why the government is shut down right now.
Sounds pretty accurate to me.
Don’t count your chickens until they hatch. Or in this case, don’t count your SNAP until it’s actually in your pocket.
it’s in my pocket right now. it was fully funded today.
I’m truly shocked that they actually paid. That’s some good news. I’m glad the people in need are getting when we owe them.
My mothers has not been paid nor is pending. Some states used state funding to pay out, most have not.
Yeah I’m always saddened to see anecdotal “it works for me” or “it doesn’t work for me” comments about something like this, where it’s super complex and until we know the rules are in place and enforced, we should assume it is not working for those who need it.
me too… next month is still scary
Awesome I’m happy for you and everybody else who needs it
Justice Department announced they are appealing, so who knows?
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Oh yes this administration has such respect.
read the news, the usda paid up today
A piece of paper is worthless. Can’t buy anything with that.
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Thank you. Didn’t make the news around here.
you’re welcome… not all states have paid out yet but some already have:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/usda-tells-states-snap-benefits-shutdown-00642403
Would have expected malicious inaction.
idk how much I believe it considering he’s reportedly still looking to block the order so at best he’s trying to quickly pay out some red states before appeal or something.
the trump administration is appealing it but the USDA is already complying with the court order:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/usda-tells-states-snap-benefits-shutdown-00642403
Trump isn’t actually dictator, he get to appoint people to the heads of agencies but they just get sworn in and then can do the job how they see it’s supposed to be done.
Trump can fire them at will, but his “orders” to them are just memos… they can defy him at any point (still get fired and replaced).
also congress has to confirm his new appointees, and never should’ve approved his other ones but any new appointees are going to have a hard time getting confirmed, especially with the gov shut down… any interim director of an agency will be less of a trump bootlicker than the one he fires….
Tell that to the people without food.
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The article is from Oct 29. I doubt the SNAP situation is news to many on the fediverse. I shared it more so because A) What a tone deaf headline, and B) To share the epiphany it caused me.