Federal Judge Weighs Mandating Continued SNAP funding Amid government Shutdown
WASHINGTON – A federal judge is considering a request from several states too compel the Trump governance to continue full funding of the Supplemental nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) despite the ongoing government shutdown.The lawsuit,filed by a coalition of states,argues the abrupt suspension of benefits threatens the well-being of millions of school-aged children adn would harm retailers reliant on SNAP recipients.
Plaintiffs contend that halting SNAP benefits will negatively impact children’s ability to learn and necessitate increased state spending on healthcare and education. “With the suspension of SNAP benefits, the nutritional needs of millions of school aged children in Plaintiff States will not be met,” the states wrote in their filing. ”Hungry children have a harder time paying attention, behaving, and learning in school. States will have to devote additional state resources, including healthcare expenditures and additional educational resources, to address these challenges.”
The states also highlighted the economic repercussions for over 100,000 merchants within their borders who depend on SNAP purchases, particularly as they prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday. They argued retailers had already increased food and inventory levels to meet anticipated demand. “Without SNAP funds, SNAP recipients will not be able to frequent retailers, causing a critically important loss in revenue, increased food waste, and a negative impact on Plaintiff States’ economies ” the lawsuit stated.
Lawyers representing the federal government countered that fulfilling the plaintiffs’ request would violate the Antideficiency Act, a criminal statute prohibiting federal spending beyond appropriated levels. They asserted the USDA,not a court,should determine how to allocate limited funds among vital safety-net programs.
The government further warned that diverting funds to fully cover november SNAP benefits could necessitate cuts to child nutrition programs, creating “calamitous concerns.” “In short, there was no option to simply fund the SNAP program fully without an appropriation,” they wrote.
The timeline for reloading SNAP benefits onto debit cards following a potential ruling remains unclear, with the process typically taking one to two weeks. Currently, a family of four must have a net income below approximately $31,000 annually to qualify for SNAP. In 2023, SNAP assisted 41 million people, with nearly two-thirds being families with children.
The case is unfolding as the government shutdown continues, raising questions about the administration’s authority to manage federal programs during periods of lapsed funding.