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A Supreme Court justice has temporarily paused a lower court ruling that required the Trump administration to fully fund November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to 42 million Americans.
Temporary Pause While Appeal Proceeds
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the order late Friday, allowing the pause to remain in effect while the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reviews the case. The justice did not refer the matter to the full Supreme Court.
Earlier in the day, the appeals court rejected the administration’s request to delay the lower court’s order, prompting the emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.
Funding Battle During Government Shutdown
The legal dispute centers on whether the federal government can be compelled to use $4 billion from Section 32 agriculture funds to cover full November SNAP payments during the ongoing government shutdown. The Trump administration argues that those funds must be reserved for the WIC program, warning that using them for SNAP would divert essential resources.
Opponents, including local governments and nonprofit organizations, counter that the administration has sufficient funds to support both programs for the month and that millions of families risk going without food assistance if payments are delayed.
States Begin Issuing Benefits Anyway
Despite the ongoing court battle, several states — including California, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey — reported they had already begun issuing full November SNAP benefits after receiving guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Kansas officials said more than $31 million in benefits had already gone out to tens of thousands of households, while Wisconsin reported distributing over $100 million.
Judge Rebuked President’s Statement
The lower court judge who initially mandated full funding accused the administration of holding SNAP benefits “for political reasons.” He pointed to comments from President Trump, who said full payments would not resume until the government reopens. The administration responded that the president was “stating a fact” about lapsed appropriations, not using the program as leverage.
What Comes Next
The temporary pause does not resolve the issue — it simply gives the appeals court time to decide. For now, states that have already issued benefits will continue distributing them, while millions of other households wait to see whether funds will be restored in full before the month continues.
For more updates on the SNAP benefits disbursement, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.