SNAP emerged as a critical flashpoint in the longest-ever government shutdown, which entered its 40th day on Nov. 9.

The Trump administration late Saturday directed states that they must "immediately undo" any actions they have made to provide full benefits to low-income families via SNAP.

The latest guidance from the Trump administration comes after the Supreme Court temporarily blocked a judge's decision that ordered immediate payouts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a late-night Saturday memo, also threatened to impose financial penalties on states that did not comply with the government's new orders.

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding that states reverse full SNAP benefits issued under recent court orders. The U.S.

A video of a large line outside a food bank in Cleveland has gone viral amid the ongoing freezing of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP) during the government shutdown.

Some 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, but payments have become shrouded in uncertainty amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Weeks of uncertainty during the longest government shutdown in American history have left some states struggling to issue payments to food stamp recipients.

For a household of four, the usual maximum of $975 has been reduced to $497 per month. Across all household sizes, the SNAP reduction is roughly 49 percent—meaning households claiming the top amount will get about half of their usual monthly benefit in November.

In failing to fully fund the food assistance program that covers 42 million low-income Americans, the judge said the government "failed to consider the harms" to people who rely on the benefits.

SNAP benefits are in the process of being sent to recipients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey following a judge's order.

Among federal policy reversals on the rollout of SNAP benefits this month, cities and counties have focused on funding food banks themselves to help residents make ends meet.