Amid the shutdown, the Trump administration ordered states to immediately reverse any steps to deliver full SNAP benefits, warning of penalties for noncompliance, according to a late-night Agriculture Department memo. The guidance directs states to send E.B.T. processors only partial-payment files, deepening confusion as officials scrambled to interpret the directive. Some states had rushed out full aid after a federal judge required funding, but the Supreme Court later paused that order pending appeal. The memo also threatened loss of administrative funds and liability, while a legal expert questioned the legality of clawing back benefits already issued.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.