Subject: Re: Dems chose the wrong hill to die on
AI Overview
No, SNAP benefits have not been stopped in past government shutdowns, although they have been delayed or threatened. In previous shutdowns, such as the 2018-2019 one, the USDA dispersed benefits early and Congress provided emergency funding to ensure payments continued, according to The News-Press.

Past shutdowns:
During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the USDA made February SNAP benefits available at the end of January, and Congress passed funding for March, says The News-Press.

Contingency funding:
The USDA typically uses carryover and reserve funds to keep the program running during a shutdown for a limited time, notes NPR and The Hill.