Senate Funding Deal Revives Food Stamps, CalFresh Reaches Some Pasadena Recipients

A bipartisan funding package advanced by the U.S. Senate late Sunday has shifted the outlook for federal nutrition assistance, easing fears of a continuing disruption to SNAP benefits and prompting a more stable outlook for Pasadena residents who rely on CalFresh.

The legislative action, which still requires final Senate votes, House approval and the President’s signature, follows a weekend of legal uncertainty after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay allowing the administration to withhold full November payments.

If the Senate bill is enacted, the package would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture with solid appropriations to resume regular SNAP operations nationwide through fiscal year 2026.

In Pasadena, where more than 17,000 residents receive SNAP benefits, City Hall confirmed that some local recipients began seeing deposits late last week. Those funds, issued through California’s CalFresh program, remain usable even as state systems continue to normalize.

The City has been monitoring the situation after Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmember Justin Jones began the call to help local residents.

“This crisis continues to affect us all, regardless of political party, race, creed, color or gender,” Jones told Pasadena Now on Sunday. “This is what I was referring to during our collaboration meeting as Stage 1, the immediate actions we needed to take given the unpredictable nature of this situation and the interruption and delay of benefits.”

“I’m encouraging Pasadena residents to continue supporting our local food pantries. We’re all feeling the economic squeeze as grocery prices rise, and that support can help keep food on the table for our neighbors.”

Councilmembers have called for volunteers and assistance for local food pantries.

Those calls have led to some amazing results.

Pasadena residents have responded with overwhelming generosity to Friends In Deed’s urgent call for help as hundreds of local families continue to struggle with the temporary pause in federal SNAP/CalFresh benefits.

In a social media post, the long-standing nonprofit said “truckloads (yes, truckloads!)” of donated boxes have been arriving at its facility after it asked for help through food drives, direct donations, and an Amazon wish list. Even delivery drivers were reportedly surprised by the volume of packages coming in.

“We’re speechless (and a little choked up),” the organization wrote. “When we asked for help … you showed up in the most incredible way.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) advised recipients Saturday to check their EBT balances and call (866) 613-3777 for assistance. DPSS noted that individuals who received aid between Nov. 8 and Nov. 10 may encounter timing gaps despite the state’s statement it will fund on time.

The legal backdrop remains active. On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused a lower court order that had mandated full November payments. The following day, USDA instructed states to halt steps toward issuing full benefits pending appeal, contributing to nationwide confusion.

The Senate’s progress now points toward restoration once the spending package is finalized.