The Federal Assistance Pause Order Does Not Affect the Nutrition Program That Benefits More Than 40 Million People
The recent order from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to temporarily pause federal grants and loans raised concerns among millions of Americans who rely on assistance programs, especially regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food stamps. However, Donald Trump’s administration has confirmed that these benefits will not be affected.
The initial memorandum, issued on Monday, January 27, 2025, established a pause on federal financial assistance, creating uncertainty about its impact on key social programs. However, on Tuesday, January 28, the OMB clarified in a second statement that direct benefits to citizens, including Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP, were explicitly excluded from this order.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed the continuity of these programs, ensuring that the temporary suspension will not affect food assistance. «Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits, and assistance that goes directly to people will not be affected by this pause», she stated.
SNAP: An Essential Support for Millions of Families
The SNAP program provides financial assistance for food purchases to more than 42.1 million Americans, allowing low-income households to access basic products through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. On average, each beneficiary receives $195 per month to spend in supermarkets and authorized retail stores.
According to data from the AP Agency, four out of five families relying on SNAP include children, elderly individuals, or people with disabilities, and the federal government has allocated more than $110 billion annually to this program in recent years.
Despite alarming headlines about a «freeze» on federal funds, the White House confirmation and the clarifying memorandum have made it clear that SNAP payments will continue without interruption. Beneficiaries can expect to receive their deposits as usual, thus dispelling fears of possible cuts to food assistance.