The Trump administration announced Monday it would provide partial funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after two courts ruled that benefits must continue during the government shutdown. The decision came hours before scheduled cuts to the program, which supports approximately 42 million Americans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to halt SNAP payments starting November 1 due to the federal funding stalemate. The program, a critical component of the nation’s social safety net, costs around $8 billion monthly. However, the administration now intends to cover “50% of eligible households’ current allotments,” according to reports.

States such as Louisiana, New Mexico, Vermont, and Rhode Island have temporarily used state funds to offset disruptions. Over two dozen states had sued the USDA to compel continued funding during the shutdown. The pause in payments would have impacted 12% of Americans, with many relying on SNAP for over half their monthly food expenses.

Beneficiaries face uncertainty about payment amounts and timing, as the process of reloading benefits onto debit cards can take up to two weeks in some states. The average monthly benefit is roughly $190 per person. Most SNAP recipients include children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, with 83% falling into one of these categories in 2023.