States are resorting to last-ditch efforts to preserve access to groceries for their residents as the federal government was ready up until its Oct. 31 deadline to stop sending out food benefits while the government shutdown drags on.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it would not be delivering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning Saturday, with the Trump administration refusing to draw on a contingency fund. But two court rulings reversed that course.

Two federal judges on Friday ordered the White House to use the emergency fund to keep SNAP operating.

President Trump hours later signaled the USDA would release the contingency funding.

Late on Friday, Trump said on Truth Social it would be his "HONOR" to fund SNAP "if we are given the appropriate legal direction." He maintained, however, that "Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available."

One out of 8 people in the U.S., or nearly 42 million people, receive SNAP benefits every month. Congressional lawmakers sought to pass legislation ensuring continued funds, but the effort failed to rally enough support behind it.

With time having run out and an intervention from the White House uncertain, many states have rushed to ensure continuity in the interim.

Here’s some contingency plans and realities states are grappling with as SNAP benefits were set to expire Saturday:

States of emergency

States and territories including California, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, New York and West Virginia have deployed........

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