Sponsors (32)
The bill secures continuous SNAP benefits and retroactive relief for vulnerable households during funding gaps, at the cost of creating additional, potentially large Treasury outlays and reducing pressure on Congress to pass regular appropriations on time.
Low-income individuals and families will continue receiving SNAP benefits without interruption during funding gaps, preventing immediate food insecurity.
Families who would have missed benefits between Sept 30, 2025 and enactment will receive retroactive SNAP payments, reducing short-term hardship and helping cover essential needs.
State agencies will avoid administrative chaos and emergency workloads from benefit interruptions, preserving program continuity and reducing emergency response costs at the state level.
Taxpayers may face additional unplanned FY2026 costs because the provision authorizes unspecified "such sums as necessary" from the Treasury.
Large retroactive SNAP payments could produce abrupt Treasury outlays that complicate FY2026 budget execution and worsen deficit projections, affecting taxpayers and fiscal managers.
Congress may face reduced political pressure to promptly enact full USDA appropriations because benefits are backstopped during funding lapses, weakening incentives for timely budgeting.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Provides Treasury funds in FY2026 to USDA to keep SNAP benefit payments flowing during a lapse in USDA appropriations, covering missed payments from Sept 30, 2025 until enactment.
Provides emergency Treasury funding in FY2026 to the Department of Agriculture so SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits continue without interruption if Congress fails to pass USDA appropriations or a continuing resolution. Funds must cover missed benefits from September 30, 2025 through the date this law is enacted and the authority to obligate ends when regular or continuing USDA appropriations for FY2026 are enacted. The appropriation is open-ended (unspecified sums) and relies on existing SNAP authority in the Food and Nutrition Act; it does not amend that statute. The goal is to prevent an interruption of benefit payments during a lapse in annual USDA funding.
Official title: Appropriate funds to ensure uninterrupted benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Introduced October 21, 2025 by Joshua David Hawley · Last progress October 21, 2025