WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately release emergency funds to continue the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring millions of low-income Americans receive their food benefits despite the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The ruling, issued late Thursday by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to “distribute contingency funds without delay” to cover November’s benefits. A separate order by Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts echoed that decision, calling the administration’s plan to suspend SNAP payments “unlawful” and “arbitrary.”
Together, the rulings represent a significant rebuke to the administration’s attempt to halt payments during the shutdown, which entered its fourth week on Friday.
Judicial Rebuke and Public Fallout
The Trump administration had announced earlier this week that SNAP benefits — which provide monthly assistance to about 42 million Americans — would be paused starting November 1, citing a lack of congressional appropriations.
Attorneys representing a coalition of states, advocacy groups, and food-assistance organizations challenged that decision, arguing that the USDA had sufficient contingency funds — roughly $5 billion — to sustain at least partial payments for several weeks.
In his ruling, Judge McConnell said the agency’s justification “failed to consider the human cost” of withholding aid during a crisis.
“There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur — if it hasn’t already — in the fear it has caused families about the availability of food for their children,” McConnell wrote.
Judge Talwani separately ordered the USDA to report by Monday how it plans to use available funds to ensure November benefits are distributed on time.
Administration’s Response
The USDA and the White House argued that the contingency funds were not designed to cover SNAP payments during a prolonged funding lapse and maintained that new congressional appropriations are required for continued disbursements.
However, both courts dismissed that argument, ruling that the department has a legal obligation to use available reserves to prevent a disruption in essential aid.
A USDA spokesperson said the agency was “reviewing the court’s decisions” and would “comply with all applicable legal requirements,” but did not specify when payments would resume.
Impact on Millions of Households
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, is one of the largest safety-net programs in the United States, providing more than $90 billion annually to help low-income households afford groceries.
The program’s recipients include families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities, many of whom rely heavily on timely monthly payments.
Food banks and local social-service agencies had warned of a surge in demand if benefits were interrupted. While Thursday’s rulings provide temporary relief, advocates cautioned that administrative delays could still cause some families to miss their early November disbursements.
“This decision brings enormous relief to millions of Americans who depend on SNAP to feed their families,” said Maria Hinojosa, spokesperson for the National Food Policy Alliance. “But the uncertainty caused by the shutdown has already left lasting harm.”
Political and Legal Implications
The rulings add new urgency to the budget stalemate in Washington, where negotiations between the White House and Congress have failed to produce a spending agreement. Legal analysts say the decisions could set an important precedent for how federal agencies must manage contingency funds during future shutdowns.
The USDA has until Monday, November 3, to file its report outlining its plan for November benefits. The administration is expected to consider an appeal but has not yet indicated whether it will challenge the rulings.
The Bottom Line
For now, the court’s orders ensure that SNAP benefits — a lifeline for one in eight Americans — will continue, at least temporarily, despite the funding freeze.
But with no end to the shutdown in sight, both recipients and food-security advocates warn that the relief could prove short-lived unless Congress and the White House reach a broader deal.
