In a major legal rebuke to the Trump administration, two federal judges have ordered the Agriculture Department to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) despite the ongoing government shutdown — a ruling that spares millions of families from an abrupt loss of food aid.
Regular SNAP funding was set to expire November 1, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture warning that “the well has run dry.” But back-to-back rulings Friday by U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island and U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts require the department to draw on $5.25 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits flowing.
“There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” McConnell said during a virtual hearing.
The orders came after a coalition of 25 Democratic-led states, joined by nonprofit organizations and faith groups, sued to prevent the Trump administration from halting food assistance to the 42 million low-income Americans who depend on SNAP each month.
Talwani’s ruling goes further, directing the government to decide by November 3 whether to issue reduced benefits using the contingency fund or reallocate other discretionary funds to close the gap.
Shutdown at Day 31
The 31-day shutdown, now the longest in decades, continues to ripple across the country.
Flight disruptions are mounting, even affecting senators trying to leave Washington.
Families have spent the week fearing their SNAP and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits would lapse.
Food banks and pantries warned they could not meet the surge in demand if federal benefits stopped.
“For now, these families can continue putting food on their tables, and thousands of nonprofit food banks, pantries, and other organizations across the country can avoid the impossible burden that would have resulted if SNAP benefits had been halted,” said Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.
The Justice Department had argued that it was “not possible” to issue partial benefits because the contingency fund covers only about half of SNAP’s roughly $9 billion in monthly costs. Judges rejected that argument, saying the administration must use the money already authorized by Congress.
Follow Up Orders
Both courts have ordered federal officials to submit written updates on funding plans by noon Monday. The Trump administration has not yet commented on the rulings.
Between the Lines
The dual rulings underscore the limits of executive power during a funding lapse and highlight how federal courts can act as a backstop when core safety-net programs are threatened. While Friday’s decisions avert a humanitarian crisis for now, they do not resolve the central issue: without a congressional deal, contingency funds may soon be exhausted, leaving millions of Americans once again uncertain about where their next meal will come from.
