Summary

Provides $462,500,000 from the Treasury, available until expended, to be used under section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 when existing appropriations are insufficient or when the Secretary of Agriculture certifies that budget authority is inadequate to make full, timely benefit payments; staff carrying out those activities are excepted from furlough during such periods. The act takes effect retroactively as of September 30, 2025. This is a targeted emergency appropriation to ensure continuity of food-assistance benefit payments and related commodity distribution activities during funding shortfalls, with an explicit payroll/furlough exception for personnel performing those functions.

• Appropriates $462.5 million from the Treasury, available until expended, for use under section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
• Funds are usable only when regular appropriations are insufficient or when the Secretary of Agriculture certifies inability to make timely full payments.
• Funds are intended to prevent benefit reductions or missed payments for food assistance/commodity distribution activities covered by section 27.
• Workers and contractors carrying out section 27 activities are excepted from furlough during periods when these funds are used and treated as emergency services.
• The appropriation does not create new benefit rules or permanently alter program authorities; it supplies temporary emergency funding.
• The act is retroactive and is to be treated as if enacted on September 30, 2025.
• Appropriation is available until expended, so there is no single fiscal-year expiration date for the funds.