Federal Judges Order Trump Administration to Resume SNAP Payments Amid Shutdown

Two federal judges have directed the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by utilizing emergency reserve funds during the ongoing government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned to suspend SNAP payments starting November 1, citing a lack of funding authority due to the shutdown. However, the judges ruled that contingency funds, approximately $5.25 billion, must be used to sustain the program.

In Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the USDA to make full SNAP payments by Monday or partial payments by Wednesday. He emphasized that the congressionally approved contingency funds should be utilized immediately.

Similarly, in Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the USDA's suspension of SNAP payments was unlawful. She instructed the administration to decide by Monday whether to authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November, using both contingency funds and additional available resources.

These rulings come in response to lawsuits filed by states and advocacy groups seeking to prevent the suspension of SNAP benefits, which support over 42 million low-income Americans. The judges' decisions underscore the critical importance of the program and the necessity of utilizing available funds to prevent hunger during the shutdown.