Federal Judge Weighs Mandate for SNAP Funding Amid Government Shutdown

A federal judge in Boston is deliberating on a motion that could compel the Trump administration to maintain funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the current government shutdown. The hearing, held on Thursday, addressed a request from 25 Democratic-led states seeking to ensure continued distribution of food aid benefits.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani questioned the administration's stance that SNAP benefits could be suspended due to the shutdown. She emphasized that if the government lacks funds to support the program, there is a prescribed process to follow, rather than halting all benefits outright.

The Department of Agriculture has indicated plans to freeze SNAP payments starting November 1, citing insufficient funding amid the shutdown. SNAP serves approximately one in eight Americans, making it a significant component of the nation's social safety net.

The administration contends that it cannot utilize a $5 billion contingency fund for SNAP, reversing a prior plan that suggested these funds would be used to keep the program operational. The Democratic state attorneys general argue that not only can these funds be used, but they are legally obligated to be used to prevent harm to recipients and the economy.

The plaintiffs assert that suspending SNAP benefits would lead to deterioration in public health and well-being, particularly among school-aged children, and would impose additional costs on states. They also highlight potential economic impacts on over 100,000 merchants who rely on SNAP recipients.

The federal government argues that obligating funds without an appropriation would violate the Antideficiency Act, a criminal statute. They maintain that decisions on allocating limited funds among crucial safety-net programs should be made by the agency, not the courts.

It remains unclear how quickly SNAP benefits could be reinstated if the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs. The process of reloading beneficiaries' debit cards typically takes one to two weeks.

To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a family of four's net income cannot exceed the federal poverty line, approximately $31,000 per year. Last year, SNAP provided assistance to 41 million people, nearly two-thirds of whom were families with children.