New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, declared that the state will enter a State of Emergency effective at 12:00 a.m. on November 1, 2025 due to the suspension of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by the Trump Administration.
Per the release, Executive Order No. 402 also establishes a coordinated statewide response to ensure food access for vulnerable residents by empowering state agencies to take emergency actions to protect public health and welfare.
Murphy posted the following statement on X: “The Trump Administration’s decision to suspend SNAP benefits threatens the health and safety of over 800,000 New Jerseyans. We will use every available resource to protect vulnerable residents.”
On Oct. 31, federal courts ruled that the federal government’s decision to withhold SNAP funding was unlawful. However, the USDA must take action to determine how much may be paid and when it may be provided. Until the federal government takes this action, SNAP benefits will continue to be unavailable.
While new federal funds will not be made available on November 1, 2025, SNAP recipients will be able to access any funds in their account that have carried over from October 2025 or previous months. SNAP recipients who routinely receive a State benefit will continue to receive that limited amount. SNAP recipients are encouraged to check their balances online here.
All children in families receiving benefits from NJ SNAP are automatically eligible to receive free school meals and are encouraged to take advantage of this resource. Families enrolled in SNAP do not need to fill out a school meals application. They simply need to go to the school cafeteria for lunch and/or breakfast as usual. Students who do not currently receive free school meals should contact their school district to complete an application.