NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Tennessee officials announced Wednesday that the state will begin distributing partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments, providing 65% of expected November benefits to recipients after federal funding was frozen during the 54-day government shutdown. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) said the partial disbursements will reach all eligible households, with those originally scheduled to receive payments in early November receiving funds first.
The TDHS statement said all SNAP recipients — regardless of payment date — will receive 65% of their benefits this month, and the department could issue the remaining amount later if directed by federal authorities. The federal freeze on SNAP, implemented under President Donald Trump’s administration as part of the broader budget standoff, left roughly 700,000 Tennesseans without assistance for weeks. The program costs the state about $145 million monthly and supports some of its most economically vulnerable residents.
The suspension of benefits strained food banks across the state, prompting a surge in demand and volunteer mobilization. Local organizations, including the Mid-South Food Bank and Second Harvest, reported record-level need. On Sunday, the Senate passed a bill expected to end the shutdown, with the House set to vote Wednesday. Officials said full SNAP payments could resume once the government reopens and funding is restored.
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