Trump Administration Must Make Food Stamp Payments Within Days, Judge Says
Immediate court order amid shutdown
In a major ruling on Friday, two federal judges determined that the Donald Trump administration must tap contingency funds to ensure the continuity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as “food stamps” — even as the federal government remains shut down. (AP News)
In Rhode Island, Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered that payments be made “timely, or as soon as possible”, for the November 1 benefits cycle. (The Washington Post) In Massachusetts, Judge Indira Talwani told the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to decide by Monday whether it will use the contingency fund for partial benefits—or other available funds for full payments. (Gothamist)
What’s at stake
The SNAP programme supports about 42 million Americans each month. (AP News) With the shutdown unresolved, the USDA had signalled it would not make the early-November disbursement, citing lack of appropriated funding. The court rulings challenge that decision. (Reuters)
Government position & legal debate
The administration maintains that because Congress has not passed a full appropriations bill, it lacks legal authority to access the contingency fund previously earmarked for emergencies. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has reiterated that the “contingency fund can only flow when the underlying appropriation is approved”. (CBS News)
Opponents argue that the statute creating the contingency reserve leans toward use in such a funding lapse and that previous administrations made similar draws during shutdowns. (The Washington Post)
What will happen now
- The administration must report back to at least one of the courts by Monday on how it intends to proceed. (TIME)
- Even if funds are released, there may still be delays in beneficiaries receiving the loaded funds, because state agencies need time to process. (The Washington Post)
- The contingency fund amount—around $5 billion—is insufficient to cover a full month’s SNAP payments (estimated at $8–9 billion). (The Washington Post)
Broader implications
The ruling alleviates, for a moment, the immediate threat of food-aid interruption for tens of millions. But the decision also underscores how vulnerable vital social-safety-net programmes are to budget stalemate in Washington. Food-banks and advocacy organisations warn of knock-on effects if disruptions persist. (CBS News)
For the Trump administration, the legal pressure is mounting: courts are pushing the hand of the executive branch to act swiftly under threat of “irreparable harm” to families relying on assistance. (The Washington Post)
What beneficiaries should know
If you or someone you know receives SNAP benefits:
- Keep checking your state agency communications — even if an early-Nov payment is delayed, the court order suggests it must come.
- Be prepared for partial payments rather than the full usual amount, depending on how much funding the USDA releases.
- Stay in contact with local food-bank or assistance organisations in case of short-term gaps in benefit delivery.
Editor’s Note
We will continue to monitor how the administration responds, how quickly payments are made, and whether the courts will enforce further deadlines. The situation remains fluid.
