Mamdani and Trump Reach Deal to Pause SNAP Rules That Threatened Benefits for Millions

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reached an agreement with Donald Trump to delay the implementation of new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules by 90 days, giving bodegas and corner stores nationwide additional time to comply.

Mamdani said the extension takes effect Friday, following discussions with Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

The revised guidelines, issued by the US Department of Agriculture and originally scheduled to take effect on 4 November, would have required retailers to stock at least seven varieties in each staple food category—dairy, grains, protein, and fruits or vegetables. Stores would also have needed to offer perishable items in at least three of those categories.

The mayor told reporters on Friday that the rules had thrown the lives of “more than a million New Yorkers” and “tens of millions more across America” into “chaos.”

“People already reckoning with a shortage of affordable places to buy what they need for their home, soaring costs at the register, and food deserts across the five boroughs, now feared that the few places they could shop would no longer be able to accept their benefits,” Mamdani said.

Advocates had warned that the requirements could leave SNAP recipients unable to shop at the only stores accessible to them. According to the Food Research and Action Center, bodegas, convenience stores, and small grocery stores account for roughly 70% of SNAP retailers.

With so little time to overhaul their inventory, many small retailers faced the prospect of losing SNAP eligibility—and potentially closing altogether—if they could not meet the new standards, the mayor said.

“For so many of our fellow Americans, whether they shop at a general store in Michigan or a convenience store in Missouri, would have struggled to use their benefits and feed those they love,” he said.

More than 100 bodega owners contacted Mamdani’s office to raise concerns about the rule. According to the New York City Department of City Planning, the five boroughs are home to more than 10,000 bodegas and corner stores.

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