Trump administration demands Hawaiʻi, other states ‘undo’ SNAP payments made for November

In the ongoing saga over food funds used by 42 million low-income Americans, President Donald Trump’s administration now is demanding states “undo” the full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits paid out Friday.

Two federal court judges had ruled last week that the federal government must use its emergency reserves to fund SNAP during the shutdown, which began on Oct. 1.

But on Friday night, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused the two rulings ordering the SNAP disbursement while the nation’s highest court considered the Trump administration’s appeal.

But by that time, several states, including Hawaiʻi, had already disbursed SNAP funds for November to almost all of the 86,472 households and 169,604 people who receive a combined $57 million a month in benefits, according to statistics from the state Department of Human Services.

“We moved with haste once we verified everything,” Joseph Campos II, deputy director of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Human Services, told The Associated Press.

The Department of Agriculture wrote to state SNAP directors on Saturday saying it now considers payments under the prior orders “unauthorized,” according to the Associated Press.

“To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors, according to the Associated Press. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.”

Campos said in a statement Sunday: “Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court pause and the use of federal dollars, the state can assure you that on Monday, November 10, your EBT card will have the state funds of $250 per individual as part of its Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program.”

Campos said people should use the state funds first, before using the federal funds.

The state said the Department of Human Services will be reviewing the guidelines and assessing possible actions. It then will proved further guidance regarding the use of federal SNAP benefits.

“We encourage people to stay connected via the DHS website at humanservices.hawaii.gov for the latest updates and for nutrition assistance options during this season,” Campos said.

Most SNAP beneficiaries have incomes below the poverty line, which is about $32,000 for a family of four. An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000, although it is based on a formula using income with most beneficiaries receiving less.

States could face penalties if they did not comply, Penn said.

Editorʻs Note: This story has been updated with information today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services.