Washington D.C. – A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by Friday, reversing a policy of partial payouts amid the ongoing government shutdown. Judge James mcconnell, appointed by President barack Obama, ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought by several states and the advocacy group Democracy Forward, stating that any further delay in full benefit distribution is “simply unacceptable.”
The decision compels the administration to provide complete SNAP benefits, rather than the 65% that had been authorized for this month. The lawsuit argued the administration had a legal obligation to maintain the program despite the shutdown, which began October 1st and stems from a funding impasse in Congress.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),which oversees SNAP,announced it would be unable to fully distribute funds starting November 1st,stating,”The well has run dry.” This led to a freeze on aid, impacting over 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to purchase groceries.
While states administer the benefits, the program is funded by the federal government. Half the states and the District of Columbia joined the lawsuit, seeking to compel the administration to utilize $5.25 billion (£4bn) in emergency funds to ensure continued assistance. Similar rulings were issued by federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, mandating partial payments.
The White House has not yet responded to the latest ruling, but a spokesperson previously clarified the administration would comply with court orders after President Trump initially vowed to withhold aid until the shutdown ends.
Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman hailed the judge’s decision as a “major victory,” stating, ”The court could not be more clear – the Trump-Vance administration must stop playing politics with people’s lives by delaying Snap payments they are obligated to issue.”
SNAP provides approximately $8 billion in benefits monthly, delivering reloadable debit cards to low-income Americans for grocery purchases. A family of four receives an average of $715 per month, roughly $6 per person per day. As uncertainty over funding persists, local governments and charities have mobilized emergency food drives, and cost-saving recipes have gained traction online as families seek to stretch limited budgets.
