Trump Admin Faces Pressure to Fund SNAP Amid Court Orders

Washington, Nov 3 (AP) The Trump administration is under pressure to respond by Monday to court orders demanding the continued funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is the largest food aid initiative in the United States. The program has been in limbo due to a government shutdown.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had initially planned to halt payments to SNAP from November 1, stating that the shutdown left it incapable of providing the necessary funding.

SNAP, a vital component of the country's social safety net, assists approximately 1 in 8 Americans, costing around USD 8 billion per month. The suspension has left many recipients uncertain about how they will obtain food assistance. Regardless of the judicial outcome, benefits will face delays in November as many recipients are used to receiving funds early in the month, and the process of updating cards can take over a week in several states.

In response, Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, along with the District of Columbia, have legally challenged the plan to halt the program, claiming the administration is required to maintain it. Several cities and nonprofit organizations have also filed lawsuits.

On Friday, separate rulings from judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts mandated that the administration continue funding for SNAP. Both rulings allowed the administration the flexibility to fund it either partially or fully for November.

The USDA has a USD 5 billion contingency fund set aside for SNAP, but the Trump administration reversed a prior agency decision to utilize this fund to sustain the program. Democratic representatives argue that an additional fund of about USD 23 billion could also be utilized.

US District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, instructed the funding using at least contingency resources and requested an update on the progress by Monday. He emphasized that previously granted work requirement waivers must remain in effect. The USDA, during the shutdown, had canceled these waivers, which exempt older adults, veterans, and others from work requirements.

In Boston, US District Judge Indira Talwani deemed the suspension unlawful and ordered that the USDA must fund SNAP. Talwani has required the federal government to declare by Monday whether they will opt to use emergency reserves for reduced benefits in November or fully finance the program using both contingency and additional funds.

Advocates and beneficiaries caution that halting this food aid could force recipients into tough choices between purchasing groceries and covering other essential costs. In response, most states have announced increased or accelerated funding for food banks or have devised new methods to ensure some benefits are loaded onto SNAP debit cards.

For a family of four to qualify for SNAP in 2025, their net income after certain deductions must be below the federal poverty threshold, approximately USD 32,000 annually. Last year, SNAP supported nearly 42 million people, two-thirds of whom were families with children. (AP) NPK NPK

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