What's Oregon's plan for SNAP now that the Trump administration will cover partial funds?

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Trump administration is reversing course, saying it will use more than $4.5 billion in contingency funds to help pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits this month.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Human Services is also working on giving out funding after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a food emergency last week.

As of Monday, Nov. 3, no SNAP benefits have been distributed in Oregon, and it is unclear when they will.

Two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to help pay for SNAP. Patrick Penn, who oversees the program, said they will use that funding in a sworn declaration to the judge in Rhode Island.

The $4.6 billion will cover 50% of eligible households' allotments, according to Penn's declaration. Now the states are waiting to hear from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on how they will disburse the partial benefits.

KOIN 6 News asked the governor when Oregonians on SNAP can expect to get benefits.

"We're hearing from the federal government that they might be moving forward with half the benefits,” Kotek said. “I'm trying to figure out how we get to the other half."

The Oregon Department of Human Services also said the $5 million the governor set aside is working its way through the grant contracting process and is still waiting on signatures. Once the paperwork is done, the funds will go out so the Oregon Food Bank can distribute them across the state.

Clackamas County commissioners declared their own emergency last week, setting aside $100,000 to help buy food for local food banks.

"We're supposed to have an update this Thursday really as to how that process is going,” Clackamas County Chair Craig Roberts said. “And we really wanted to declare that emergency, make sure that we're able to be nimble enough to get the food as quickly as possible."

But even getting out that funding has come with challenges.

"A big issue that our board was focusing on really was making sure that we're where we want to get the money to those SNAP recipients, so it might be that they have to go to the food bank,” Roberts said. “But those logistics we're working out right now."