Two federal judges have ruled that the Trump administration must continue funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, preventing a lapse in aid for millions of Americans. The decision comes as the government shutdown, attributed to Democratic-led congressional actions, threatened to end SNAP payments on November 1.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, ordered the administration to resume SNAP benefits, citing legal grounds that the suspension was unlawful. She demanded the government provide details by November 3 on how it plans to fund the program, including whether full or partial payments would be issued. Shortly after, U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island also mandated the Trump administration to use emergency funds to sustain SNAP benefits “as soon as possible” next month.
The ruling arrives hours before the U.S. Department of Agriculture was set to freeze SNAP payments due to the shutdown. The program requires $8.6 billion monthly to support 41 million recipients, but available contingency funds fall short of this amount. Judges instructed the administration to locate alternative funding sources if emergency reserves prove insufficient.
The emergency order comes amid growing pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups, as millions face potential food insecurity without immediate intervention. The Trump administration has yet to publicly address the court’s directives.
