2 Judges Order Trump Administration to Fund SNAP During Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to maintain SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. The decision affects nearly 41 million Americans relying on food aid. The administration had planned to freeze payments, citing funding limits.
SNAP Funding Mandate – Quick Looks
- Two federal judges ruled that SNAP must continue using emergency funds during the shutdown.
- The USDA had planned to pause payments to SNAP recipients on November 1.
- SNAP supports 1 in 8 Americans, costing $8 billion monthly.
- Democratic leaders from 25 states and D.C. sued, arguing the administration is legally obligated to fund the program.
- Judges directed the Trump administration to use at least $5 billion in contingency funds, or more if needed.
- Officials warn the funds may only cover part of November’s costs.
- Food banks and states have scrambled to prepare for a possible funding lapse.
- The rulings could face appeal and legal pushback from the administration.
2 Judges Order Trump Administration to Fund SNAP During Shutdown
Deep Look
BOSTON (AP) — As the government shutdown drags into its second month, two federal judges delivered a decisive blow to the Trump administration’s plan to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In rulings issued Friday, both judges ordered the administration to utilize available contingency funds to continue the program, which provides food assistance to nearly 41 million low-income Americans.
The decisions came just one day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was set to suspend payments due to what it claimed was an inability to legally allocate funds amid the shutdown.
Legal Showdown Over Food Aid
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia. They challenged the administration’s decision to stop SNAP payments, arguing that federal law obligates the government to continue disbursements, especially when contingency funds are available.
SNAP, a cornerstone of the U.S. social safety net, costs about $8 billion per month and supports approximately 1 in 8 Americans. The USDA had initially indicated it would use a $5 billion contingency fund to keep the program running, but later reversed course, prompting urgent legal action.
Federal judges in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts sided with the plaintiffs. The Rhode Island judge ordered that SNAP payments must continue using contingency funds and requested an update on implementation by Monday. The Massachusetts judge issued a similar directive and asked the administration to explain whether it plans to partially or fully fund November’s benefits with emergency resources.
Though the precise timing of benefit reloads remains uncertain, officials estimate that processing could take one to two weeks.
Judicial Rebuke of Shutdown Strategy
In a Thursday court hearing in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani expressed skepticism toward the administration’s legal stance.
“If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” she told government lawyers. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.”
Talwani made it clear her ruling would apply nationwide, not just to the 25 plaintiff states — a bold move that could challenge recent Supreme Court guidance discouraging nationwide injunctions.
Contingency Funds and Legal Debate
The administration has argued that the $5 billion contingency fund cannot legally be used to continue SNAP during a shutdown. However, state officials countered that not only can the money be used, it must be. They also pointed to an additional $23 billion in a separate account that could potentially be tapped.
Talwani appeared to agree with that interpretation, noting that Congress intended for agencies to have mechanisms to prevent full shutdown of essential services.
SNAP Recipients and States Caught in Crisis
The looming SNAP shutdown has already triggered a scramble among food banks, states, and low-income families. Several states pledged to use their own funds to cover food assistance, while food banks began preparing for surges in demand.
Advocates have warned that cutting off SNAP benefits would force families to choose between buying food and paying for essentials like rent, utilities, and medicine. “This is not just a budget issue — it’s a survival issue,” one advocacy group said in a statement.
Federal Response and Political Fallout
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, speaking at a Capitol news conference with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday, blamed Senate Democrats for the standoff. She criticized their refusal to end a filibuster and accused them of playing politics with vital aid.
“The contingency funds are not enough to cover SNAP for long,” Rollins said, warning that without a full government funding resolution, this court-ordered stopgap is temporary.
Congressional efforts to pass emergency SNAP funding during the shutdown failed earlier in the week, intensifying pressure on the courts to intervene.
SNAP’s Reach and Impact
To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a family of four must have a net income below approximately $31,000 per year. Nearly two-thirds of SNAP recipients are families with children, and the benefits are distributed monthly through debit cards used for groceries.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit emphasized the far-reaching consequences of any interruption to those payments, particularly for vulnerable populations already on the financial edge.
What Comes Next
While the administration is expected to appeal the rulings, the immediate impact is that SNAP will continue — at least temporarily — through contingency funding. Legal experts say the appeals could determine whether the federal government is ultimately required to maintain critical services during shutdowns.
In the meantime, states await instructions on how to reload benefit cards and ensure families don’t miss meals due to political deadlock in Washington.
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