U.S. Department of Agriculture

What is circulating

“During the 2025 government shutdown, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on 30 October 2025 that the federal government "decided to shut down the SNAP machines, so that they can't be used."”

Claimed by JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois · official statement

The facts

PolitiFact rated the claim False. There are no separate SNAP machines; recipients pay with the same card terminals other shoppers use, and a USDA notice said benefits received before 1 November could still be spent. The USDA had said it would halt November payments for about 42 million recipients, but after a court ruling it said a $4.65 billion contingency fund would cover 50 percent of benefits.

Fact check: PolitiFact

What is circulating

“Leavitt blamed the egg shortage on the "Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture", which she said "directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens."”

Claimed by Karoline Leavitt · official statement

The facts

PolitiFact rated the claim Half True. USDA data show about 108 million egg-laying hens died from bird flu or culling since 2022, and retail egg prices rose from $1.60 a dozen in February 2021 to $4.10 in December 2024. But culling infected flocks was also USDA policy during Trump's first term and the 2015 outbreak, so the policy is not specific to Biden.

Fact check: PolitiFact