WASHINGTON D.C. – As the United States navigates an ongoing federal government shutdown, a significant legal and legislative development occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While Congress remains gridlocked, federal courts delivered critical rulings impacting food assistance for millions, directly related to eligibility changes mandated by the recently passed H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The core of the immediate controversy centers on the implementation of new eligibility criteria within H.R. 1, which, as of November 1st, drastically limits federal food assistance primarily to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents (Green Card holders subject to the five-year bar), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and residents of Compact of Free Association nations.
This legislative shift means that refugees, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and other noncitizens who previously relied on this essential safety net may now be ineligible for federal food aid, creating immediate hardship for vulnerable populations.
Judicial Intervention on Benefit Halts
The implementation of these sweeping changes coincided with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) earlier announcement to halt November SNAP benefits due to the shutdown. In response, twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had challenged the USDA’s decision in court.
On Friday, October 31st, a significant victory for benefit recipients came from Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She ruled that the decision to stop SNAP benefits was “unlawful” and ordered the administration to provide an explanation by Monday, November 3, 2025, detailing how it would fund aid for November.
Simultaneously, Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., presiding over a similar case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, issued a direct order compelling the administration to tap an emergency reserve and "distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the Nov. 1 payments to be made.”
These judicial mandates place the executive branch in a difficult position, as they must reconcile ongoing legislative mandates—specifically the new eligibility rules from H.R. 1—with court orders demanding the continuation of benefits, all while operating under a continuing appropriations resolution stalemate.
Uncertainty for Noncitizen Recipients
The confluence of the shutdown and the new law has created significant operational confusion for state agencies administering the program. The USDA, the federal agency in charge, had reportedly not yet issued comprehensive guidance to states on the precise meaning of H.R. 1 regarding noncitizen eligibility.
This lack of clarity has led to varying interpretations at the state level, with some states reportedly restricting benefits more severely than what the federal law might strictly require, causing undue stress for families seeking food security.
The implications extend beyond immediate food security. H.R. 1 also contains provisions set to affect eligibility for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare for refugees and other noncitizens starting in October 2026, signaling a broader policy shift in public assistance for immigrants.
The Legislative Backdrop: Shutdown and Filibuster Debates
This situation is occurring against the backdrop of the 2025 U.S. government shutdown, now entering its second month, which has seen multiple failed votes in the Senate to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. The Senate requires 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles, meaning the 53-seat Republican majority has consistently fallen short of the necessary threshold to advance House-passed funding measures.
Adding another layer of political complexity, former President Donald Trump publicly called for Senate Republicans to eliminate the legislative filibuster—the procedural tool preventing a simple majority vote—to force through a budget bill and end the shutdown.
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and most of the Republican conference have strongly resisted this call, viewing the filibuster as a vital institutional check on power, particularly when they are in the minority.
The immediate focus for many lawmakers remains on passing stopgap funding, especially as the shutdown threatens vital services, including the potential exhaustion of funds for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the looming cutoff of SNAP benefits for all recipients, regardless of citizenship status during the shutdown period.
As November 1st marks both the effective date for H.R. 1's eligibility overhaul and the day many Americans lose food assistance due to the shutdown, the judicial rulings offer a temporary reprieve for some, while the legislative standoff continues to define the political landscape in Washington.