Judge Orders Full SNAP Benefits Amid Trump Shutdown Fight

In a dramatic turn of events during the ongoing government shutdown, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November's SNAP benefits for 42 million low-income Americans by Friday, blocking its plan to provide only reduced benefits.

The Court Ruling: A Victory for Food Security

U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, R.I., delivered a sharp rebuke to the White House on Thursday, accusing the administration of withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for "political reasons." The judge emphasized the immediate human consequences of the administration's actions.

"The evidence shows that people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened, and needless suffering will occur," McConnell said during a virtual court hearing. "That's what irreparable harm here means."

Background: The Government Shutdown and SNAP

SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, provides nutritional assistance to millions of Americans whose income is below 130% of the federal poverty line. With the government shutdown now in its 37th day—the longest in U.S. history—the Trump administration had initially planned to entirely suspend SNAP benefits for November, citing a lack of authorized funding from Congress.

Earlier court rulings had given the administration options to access contingency funds to at least partially fund the program. The USDA opted to use $4.65 billion from contingency funds, which would have resulted in either a 50% or 35% reduction in benefits depending on the calculation. However, this approach required states to reprogram their systems—a process that could take weeks or months in some states.

The Human Cost of Delay

The judge highlighted the severe impact on vulnerable populations, particularly children.

"Without SNAP funding for the month of November, 16 million children are immediately at risk of going hungry," McConnell stated. "In fact, it's likely that SNAP recipients are hungry as we sit here."

The administration's handling of the situation has left states scrambling to implement changing directives and recipients uncertain about when they would receive assistance. Food pantries across the country have reported increased demand as families face the prospect of going without their monthly food aid.

Administration's Response and Appeal

The Trump administration quickly moved to appeal McConnell's decision, leaving it unclear whether the full benefits would ultimately be paid. Vice President JD Vance called the ruling "absurd," stating:

"In the midst of a shutdown, we can't have a federal court telling the president how he has to triage the situation."

The USDA argued that using additional funds from a $23.35 billion tariff-derived fund meant for child nutrition programs would endanger the nation's free and reduced-price school meals program, which serves about 29 million children daily. However, the judge pointed out that the administration had already transferred $750 million from this fund to the WIC program, undermining their argument.

State-Level Confusion

The rapidly changing legal landscape has created significant confusion at the state level, which administer SNAP benefits. Some states like Illinois indicated they could begin processing payments by Friday, while others like Pennsylvania warned it could take weeks to reprogram their systems.

"This immoral and unlawful decision by the administration has shamefully delayed SNAP payments, taking food off the table of hungry families," said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, the legal group that challenged the administration's actions.

What Happens Next?

While Judge McConnell ordered full SNAP payments to be made by Friday, the administration's appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals means the final outcome remains uncertain. The appeals court, which includes appointees of Democratic presidents, will now review the case.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray expressed outrage at the administration's appeal: "I have never seen an American President so desperate to force children and seniors to go hungry. This is as ugly and cruel as it gets."

Regardless of the legal outcome, the situation has highlighted the vulnerability of essential social programs during government shutdowns and raised questions about how political battles impact the most vulnerable Americans.