Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Temporarily Withhold $4 Billion in Food Aid Amid Shutdown

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Trump administration to temporarily withhold around $4 billion in funding needed to fully support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The administrative stay, issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, allows a lower court more time to decide on the administration’s request to only partially fund the program, which supports 42 million low-income Americans. SNAP, also known as food stamps, typically costs between $8.5 billion and $9 billion monthly.

The order came after U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must promptly pay full SNAP benefits, accusing the administration of withholding funds for “political reasons.” McConnell directed the USDA to use emergency funds from another program supporting child nutrition to cover the shortfall. The Trump administration, however, argued that fully funding SNAP during the shutdown would “sow further chaos,” urging the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to halt McConnell’s ruling.

While the 1st Circuit denied the administration’s initial request for an administrative stay, it said it would decide quickly on the broader appeal. The USDA, in the meantime, informed states that it was preparing to distribute full benefits, leading to confusion as states like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts moved ahead with full payments. SNAP benefits, which lapsed for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, are vital for families earning below 130% of the federal poverty line, with millions now relying on food pantries amid the disruption.

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