The USDA has a contingency fund of approximately $6 billion designated for SNAP. This fund was intended to cover administrative costs and ensure continuity of benefits during funding lapses, as stated in previous USDA plans and legal interpretations. - Despite this, the Trump administration has decided not to use these funds for November 2025 benefits, arguing that they are only for supplemental use when regular appropriations are insufficient, not to replace them entirely during a shutdown. 2. Starvation and Healthcare Risks: - The withholding of SNAP benefits starting November 1, 2025, could lead to widespread food insecurity, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and low-income families. This is what critics refer to as a "starvation attack," where essential resources are withheld to exert political pressure.