Court instructs Trump administration to use emergency funds for SNAP benefits

Federal Judge Blocks SNAP Cuts Amid Government Shutdown

A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot stop the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing government shutdown. This comes as the administration had planned to halt the program starting this weekend. The judge mandated that emergency funds must be disbursed first.

The emergency fund totals around $5.25 billion, which, unfortunately, doesn’t cover the full cost of November’s SNAP payments that exceed $9 billion. U.S. District Judge John McConnell dismissed claims that these emergency funds are only designated for disasters, thus preventing the suspension of benefits that impact over 40 million Americans.

“SNAP benefits have never been eliminated,” McConnell noted during the session. He pointed out that the U.S. has effectively used reserve funds in similar situations, like the government shutdown in 2019.

He directed the USDA to release these emergency funds “in a timely manner.” Additionally, he requested an update from them by the following Monday.

The potential end of SNAP benefits highlights the complications arising from the government shutdown, which has now reached five weeks. While Republicans generally agree on this issue, debates within the Senate Republican conference have arisen regarding whether to let SNAP benefits expire, which would adversely affect numerous constituents in Republican-held states.

Even with the judge’s ruling providing some immediate relief, it’s essential to note that the USDA is not required to maintain these benefits indefinitely, even if funds run low.

There are currently two lawsuits regarding the government’s decision to withhold funds, with one initiated by 25 Democratic-led states, and another by a coalition of cities and private organizations.

Judge McConnell, appointed by former President Barack Obama and based in Rhode Island, is overseeing the latter case. Michael Torcello, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, expressed urgency, stating that for many, this shutdown represents a serious emergency. “Starting tomorrow, millions of Americans will lose access to these vital benefits,” he stressed to McConnell.

Shortly before this ruling, Judge Indira Talwani, also an Obama appointee, issued a similar decision and gave the government until Monday to outline its use of reserved funds.

The Trump administration has raised alarms about the implications of partially funding benefits in November. They suggested that this could lead to a rush among states and recipients trying to obtain funds before they run out.

They argued in a court filing, “USDA also cannot resolve this issue by providing partial benefits.” This stance stems from the complexity involved in recalculating benefits based on available funds—a process that USDA estimates could take weeks.

Interestingly, the November funding shortfall could potentially be addressed by accessing the Section 32 Fund, which utilizes customs receipts. However, both judges indicated that it’s at the administration’s discretion whether to tap into these funds.

During the hearing, Justice Department attorney Tyler Becker remarked, “If there’s no diversion, there’s really no program.” He added, “The government can’t just add funding when the program doesn’t exist.”