LT. GOV. AUSTIN DAVIS SPEAKS AT THE GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, NOV. 3. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
Federal judge also forces Trump’s hand
The Trump administration has acquiesced to a federal judge’s order to use emergency money to fund the SNAP, or food stamps, program.
But there’s just one huge problem—the emergency funds can only fund SNAP for half of a month.
And there’s another problem—it may take weeks for the emergency funds to get dispersed to all 42 million American SNAP recipients.
The federal government funds the SNAP program at a cost of $9 billion per month. There’s $4.65 billion available to be used in the contingency fund to fund SNAP. The execution of that money to SNAP recipients has already begun, but it’s unclear exactly when a particular SNAP recipient will receive the “half” of what one would normally receive in a month.
The federal government shutdown is the impetus for the SNAP implosion. The shutdown is now in its sixth week. It began on Oct. 1, 2025. Republicans are blaming Democrats for the impasse—Democrats are blaming Republicans. Either way, there are two million people in Pennsylvania, including 160,000 in Allegheny County, who are possibly reeling over the SNAP benefits not being there when they need them.
“I want to be clear, those are taxpayer dollars that Pennsylvanians have paid into for those benefits that are being held particularly for a moment like this,” echoed Pa.’s Lt. Governor, Austin Davis, at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Nov. 3. “I do not believe that food should be used as a bargaining chip. We believe food is a human right, and we think congressional Republicans in the Trump Administration need to step up and do the right thing.”
Lt. Gov. Davis announced on Nov. 3 that the state had sent $5 million in funds to food banks across the state to deal with the emergency. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank received just over $800,000 of that $5 million, to help with the 11-county Western Pennsylvania region. Lisa Scales, President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, said the money helps the food bank purchase the food quickly, then get it to its abundance of food pantry partners across Allegheny and other counties.
“The Trump Administration has really tied the hands of state governments across the country,” Lt. Gov. Davis said. “Many state governments have offered to front money for the SNAP program in November until the federal government is able to resolve their shutdown. The Trump Administration has said if states do that, they will not reimburse the funds that are expended on behalf of SNAP. That is another complicating factor that is making our ability to respond much more challenging.”
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is located at 1 N. Linden St. in Duquesne, but people don’t have to drive exclusively to the food bank for assistance. Residents can also call 211 if in need of food. By calling 211, residents can be routed to the nearest food pantry in their area to receive available food. Scales told the New Pittsburgh Courier that the food bank is focused on providing milk, eggs, meat, peanut butter, tuna fish, the “core grocery items.” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said there may be a wait when someone calls 211.
“Check in on your neighbor, make sure people are OK,” Scales said. “This is a scary time. People we’re speaking with who are coming to our market… frankly it takes courage to ask for help. I commend people who come here who are asking for help.”