Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey ordered the immediate processing of full SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for eligible households in the state on Friday, following a federal judge’s decision ordering the Trump administration to release the funds.
According to the state executive branch, beneficiaries who missed a payment should begin seeing their benefits on their cards as early as tomorrow, while those who have not yet missed their scheduled payment will be paid on their regular date.
In her statement, the governor sharply criticized the suspension of payments ordered by Washington amid the federal government shutdown. “President Trump should never have put the American people in this position. Families should not have gone hungry because their president chose to put politics before their lives,” stated Maura Healey. “We are now disbursing these benefits to families who desperately need them. I am grateful to the people of Massachusetts who continue to mobilize to help their neighbors during this difficult time,” she added. She also thanked Attorney General Andrea Campbell “for taking legal action to challenge this unprecedented and illegal decision,” as well as the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) teams, who “have stayed focused on serving the public.”
A Shifting Federal Context: From Payment Freeze to Court Order
The Massachusetts executive branch’s decision comes as several federal courts have ruled the suspension of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown illegal. Last Friday, at least two judges—including one in Massachusetts—determined that the administration must use the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reserve funds to continue payments, noting the risk of severe consequences for food-insecure households.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration agreed to allocate $4.65 billion from the USDA’s contingency fund to partially finance November benefits, representing approximately half of the monthly needs estimated at nearly $8 billion. However, technical payment delays remained possible in some states.
On Thursday, November 6, a federal judge ordered full payment of November benefits. On Friday, November 7, the administration appealed and requested a stay of execution of this decision, prolonging nationwide uncertainty regarding the exact payment timeline.
What This Means for Massachusetts
Despite the appeal proceedings initiated in Washington, Thursday’s federal decision paves the way for resumption of full benefit payments in the Commonwealth, which the governor decided to activate “today” to credit EBT cards as soon as possible. The DTA specifies that beneficiaries who missed a payment are prioritized for the catch-up, before returning to the regular schedule for other households. Operational updates are being distributed through the state’s information pages.
Since late October, the Massachusetts executive branch had anticipated a possible disruption by launching a dedicated information portal and advancing $4 million to food banks to cushion the impact on families. The “United Response Fund” had raised $1.3 million in one week to support aid networks.
On the ground, communities and charitable organizations have also sounded the alarm about the scale of the impact. The Greater Boston Food Bank estimated that up to one million Massachusetts residents risked losing access to food starting November 1 if the federal freeze persisted. Several cities (Chelsea, Medford, Boston) posted user notices and food assistance access guides online.
A Vital Program for 42 Million Americans
Nationwide, approximately 42 million people depend on SNAP to supplement their food budget. The current government shutdown has caused, for the first time, a depletion of SNAP federal funding at the beginning of the month, forcing judges to remind officials of the existence of reserve funds to be mobilized before any payment stoppage. Congressional debates continue: this week, a Democratic attempt to fully fund November benefits was blocked in the Senate.
In Massachusetts, Governor Healey reaffirms that “all payments must be honored throughout the duration of the shutdown,” indicating that the DTA “is ready” as soon as federal funds arrive. Anti-hunger advocates have nonetheless warned against the confusion that partial or delayed funding would create and are calling for rapid full funding.
The statement indicates that the Trump administration has appealed the decision issued Thursday. Meanwhile, the DTA will closely monitor judicial developments and inform beneficiaries of any changes.
Massachusetts residents can check payment updates at mass.gov/SNAPupdates. Additional information for families facing food insecurity, as well as ways to help their neighbors, is available at https://mass.gov/SNAPfreeze.
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