Supreme Court to Decide on Full SNAP Benefits/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As the government shutdown continues, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on whether states can resume issuing full SNAP benefits. Millions relying on food aid face uncertainty, with payments varying drastically by state. The outcome hinges on both the courts and pending congressional action.
SNAP Payments in Limbo: Supreme Court to Decide Amid Shutdown Tensions
- Supreme Court weighs Trump administration request to block full SNAP aid
- Over 42 million Americans rely on the program for groceries
- Some states issue full benefits, others none or partial payments
- Legal rulings and shutdown politics disrupt food security nationwide
- Congressional deal could restore funding if passed in time
Supreme Court to Decide on Full SNAP Benefits
Deep Look
Millions of Americans who depend on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are anxiously awaiting a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that could determine whether full food aid payments resume this month. With the federal government still partially shut down, the fate of November SNAP benefits hangs in the balance — along with the food security of 1 in 8 Americans.
The Trump administration has asked the high court to allow continued limits on SNAP disbursements, arguing that full funding could strain resources needed for other emergencies. A ruling is expected Tuesday, the same day an appeals court’s decision requiring full benefit payments is set to take effect unless the Supreme Court intervenes.
Uneven Aid Distribution Across States
SNAP recipients are currently experiencing wildly different realities depending on where they live. In states like Hawaii and New Jersey, full monthly payments have been distributed. In contrast, people in Nebraska and West Virginia have received nothing. States like Texas and North Carolina have only issued partial payments.
This patchwork system has left families in crisis. In Pennsylvania, some received full benefits last Friday, while others — like Jim Malliard of Franklin — are still waiting. Malliard, 41, is the full-time caretaker for his wife and teenage daughter, both of whom have major medical needs. The loss of his $350 monthly SNAP payment has left him down to $10 and rationing rice and ramen.
“To say anxiety has been my issue for the past two weeks is putting it mildly,” he said.
Communities Step In to Help
As the government delays aid, some Americans have taken matters into their own hands. In upstate New York, teacher Ashley Oxenford set up a small outdoor pantry in her front yard to help neighbors in need.
“I figure that I’ve spent money on dumber stuff than trying to feed other people during a manufactured famine,” she said.
SNAP Caught in Legal Crossfire
The Trump administration halted full SNAP funding after October due to the government shutdown, triggering a legal battle over whether the program must continue operating at full capacity. On October 31, two federal judges ordered at least partial funding, and the administration agreed to issue up to 65% of normal benefit levels.
But when one of the judges later ruled that full benefits must resume — even if that meant using contingency funds — the administration objected. The Supreme Court temporarily blocked that ruling, creating more confusion.
“The only way to end this crisis — which the Executive is adamant to end — is for Congress to reopen the government,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in a Monday court filing. “The answer to this crisis is not for federal courts to reallocate resources without lawful authority.”
Plaintiffs: USDA to Blame for Chaos
A coalition of cities and nonprofit organizations has challenged the SNAP funding pause, blaming the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the chaos. In their Tuesday filing, they argued that the agency’s delays and resistance created the confusion, not the courts.
“The chaos was sown by USDA’s delays and intransigence,” they wrote, “not by the district court’s efforts to mitigate that chaos and the harm it has inflicted on families who need food.”
Congressional Action May Offer Relief
Meanwhile, political negotiations to end the shutdown may soon offer a more permanent solution. On Monday, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would fully reopen the government and restore SNAP funding. Speaker Mike Johnson has called House lawmakers back to Washington to consider the deal.
President Trump has not formally committed to signing the bill but hinted over the weekend that a resolution may be close.
“It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” he said Sunday.
If passed and signed into law, the measure would provide immediate funding for SNAP, potentially ending the legal stalemate. However, it remains unclear how quickly states could process and distribute delayed or missing benefits.
Outlook for Millions Remains Uncertain
With the court ruling pending and Congress still in flux, the question of when — or whether — full SNAP benefits will resume remains unanswered for now. For millions relying on the program to feed their families, each day without clarity increases pressure on already strained households.
Whether the relief comes from the judiciary or from Capitol Hill, one thing is clear: the SNAP crisis is highlighting the real-world consequences of political gridlock and underscoring how fragile essential services can become during a prolonged government shutdown.
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