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The government of Guam started issuing half of November food benefits to those under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Saturday as federal funding for the program remains unclear. President Donald Trump said he has instructed lawyers to seek guidance on how to fund SNAP after two federal judges ruled his administration must continue to pay benefits using contingency funds. It's unclear when the federal government will pay out SNAP benefits, but local governments around the U.S. including Guam have since found ways to provide food benefits. Those under the SNAP program got half of their monthly food benefits on Saturday through the General Food Assistance Benefit, or GFAB, which is Guam's locally funded response that offsets the temporary suspension of federal SNAP support, Adelup said in a release. The first portion of the GFAB was loaded onto EBT cards on Saturday, which is the regular staggered SNAP release schedule, and local resources remain ready to carry families throughout the month if needed, Adelup said. The benefits will be issued on the same dates families normally receive their SNAP benefits. If the federal government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are still unavailable, the remaining 50% will be distributed mid-November, the Department of Public Health and Social Services said. More than 43,000 Guam residents rely on SNAP to put food on the table, Public Health Director Theresa Arriola said. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said government lawyers don't think his administration has the legal authority to pay SNAP with money available. Judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island rejected a U.S. Department of Agriculture claim that it could not use a contingency fund to help cover the benefits amid the month-long government shutdown. District Judges John McConnel, in Rhode Island, and Indira Talwani, in Boston, both ruled the administration must use contingency funds to pay for SNAP benefits. Trump said he has instructed lawyers to ask the court to clarify how they can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. The president said SNAP is already delayed enough and even if the administration gets immediate guidance, it will be delayed while states get the money out. Trump blamed Democrats for keeping the government closed and urged them to reopen the government. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, in a statement Saturday, said while she welcomes the court decision to prevent an immediate cutoff of SNAP benefits nationwide, the situation in Washington remains uncertain. "We do not yet know what additional steps the Administration may take or how long these temporary measures will last," she said. Partial payment Even if the Trump administration is able to tap into contingency funds it may not have enough to fully fund SNAP benefits for the month. According to court filings by the Justice Department, the contingency fund has $5.3 billion remaining in it, but the monthly SNAP benefits total about $8.2 billion. The USDA could tap into leftover tariff revenue dedicated to child nutrition programs which is at $17 billion, but using the money could hurt those programs, a Justice Department attorney argued. If only the contingency fund was tapped, the USDA would have to reduce benefits for all SNAP recipients, which it has never done, according to a declaration filed by the agency official who oversees the program. Also, state agencies would need to recode their systems to issue the smaller benefit amounts, which could result in payment errors. Local program While federal funding for SNAP remains unclear the government of Guam has stepped in so families under the program will continue to be able to buy food this month. The General Food Assistance Benefits was created after Gov. Leon Guerrero sent down a bill to the Guam Legislature to provide local funding to cover November food benefits for those under SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children programs. Senators passed the bill to give $13.1 million in unobligated excess revenue collected in fiscal year 2025 to Public Health to pay for the November food benefits and the governor shortly signed the bill into law. “More than 43,000 of our neighbors depend on SNAP to put food on the table,” Public Health Director Arriola said in a statement. “When that lifeline is disrupted, it does not just cause inconvenience. It brings fear, stress, and uncertainty to families already doing everything they can to make ends meet. We see the sacrifices parents make, the tough choices between bills and groceries, and the heartbreak of not knowing if there will be enough to eat.” She said the assistance is a critical bridge for families facing hardship. "We are deeply grateful that our community and leaders have come together to ensure no one is left behind. We encourage everyone to plan ahead and make these benefits last while we wait for stability to return," Arriola said. Leon Guerrero on Saturday said because of early and responsible local action, Guam families will not go without food. "Our government moved swiftly to secure emergency funding so that SNAP and WIC benefits could continue through this federal shutdown. While millions of families across the nation face uncertainty, Guam acted decisively to protect those most in need," the governor said. She is urging residents to use their benefits carefully and make them last as long as possible while GovGuam continues monitoring federal developments. "As we enter this season of faith and family, I hope cooperation and goodwill will prevail in Washington. Let us all remember that when government fails to act, it is our compassion and unity that carry us through," Leon Guerrero said. How to use GFAB SNAP families are encouraged to use any remaining SNAP benefits from previous months first. Once those benefits are fully used, families may switch to using November GFAB by pressing ‘Cash’ at the register to continue purchasing approved food items. DPHSS encourages all SNAP families to make the most of their benefits by: Choosing foods that freeze well, such as meats and vegetablesStocking up on canned goods and shelf-stable goodsPrioritize foods like rice, beans, and pastaPreparing filling meals like soups, chili, and casseroles DPHSS continues to coordinate with federal partners and monitor updates closely. Should SNAP benefits resume, recipients will be notified through official DPHSS announcements, media releases, social media and mailed notices. 'Caring for one another' Gov. Leon Guerrero said being able to fund the local program is an example of why protecting Guam's revenue base is important. “When challenges arise, the only thing we can count on is one another. The strength of our community depends on the choices we make long before any storm approaches," the governor said in a statement Friday. She encourages families to continue planning wisely, looking out for neighbors, and supporting one another as Guam moves forward through this period of federal uncertainty. “Guam’s ability to respond with our own resources shows the strength of our fiscal discipline and our deep commitment to caring for one another,” Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in a statement. “By acting quickly and responsibly, we ensured that no family goes hungry in November because of circumstances beyond our island’s control, because we know that behind every benefit card is a parent making sure their children have a meal and a sense of stability.”
