WASHINGTON — Two US federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to resume food assistance for millions of Americans affected by the ongoing government shutdown, directing officials to use contingency funds to continue the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps.
The rulings, issued by federal courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, came in response to lawsuits challenging the administration’s plan to halt SNAP payments beginning Saturday, as reported by The Washington Post.
Both judges instructed government lawyers to return to court Monday to explain how they intend to comply with the orders.
President Donald Trump later wrote on social media that he had instructed government attorneys to work with the courts to release the funds “as quickly as possible,” blaming Democrats for delays. “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will be my honor to provide the funding,” he said.
However, despite the rulings, millions of Americans will still miss November food aid, as the contingency funds were not approved in time to meet payment deadlines. States typically require several days’ notice to distribute benefits.
US District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island, appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled that the administration’s refusal to use $5.25 billion in available contingency funds for November benefits was “unjustified.” He ordered the Agriculture Department (USDA) to release the funds immediately to prevent harm to recipients.
“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur—if it hasn’t already—in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of food for their families,” McConnell said.
In a separate case in Boston, US District Judge Indira Talwani, also appointed by Obama, found that the USDA had misinterpreted the law governing SNAP benefits. While she did not immediately order the release of funds, she gave the department until Monday to decide whether to authorize at least partial payments for November.
SNAP provides assistance to low-income Americans earning less than 130% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $1,632 a month for an individual. The program is federally funded but administered by states, which issue monthly payments to beneficiaries.
The shutdown, now lasting over a month, has disrupted critical federal services and delayed payments to millions of Americans. Anti-hunger advocates and Democratic officials welcomed the court rulings as a lifeline for struggling families, though they warned that logistical delays may still prevent many from receiving benefits on time.
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar called the administration’s attempt to withhold benefits “a cruel political decision,” saying the Agriculture Department had “no excuse to withhold food assistance” and urging immediate compliance with the court orders. — Agencies
