Millions of Americans are going without grocery benefits this weekend because of the government shutdown. Federal funding for SNAP ran out on Saturday. Two judges ordered the Trump administration to restore payments using emergency reserves, something the White House previously said it couldn’t legally do. Despite the rulings, people relying on the program are facing delays and uncertainty. On Saturday, one of those judges released a more detailed written order outlining the path forward. “There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” wrote U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, noting that a failure to do so would cause irreparable harm. But the Trump administration still has a decision to make, Judge McConnell said, because the contingency fund alone will not cover the full cost of November benefits. McConnell said they can choose whether to find additional funding elsewhere to pay for the rest or make partial payments instead.The Trump administration must tell the court on or before noon on Monday, Nov. 3, how it will comply with the order. If they decide to make full payments, they must do so by the end of the day on Monday. The deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 5, if they opt for partial payments.According to the order, the administration argued in court that implementing a partial allotment for the entire country “would be exceedingly difficult, highly disruptive, and delayed, requiring a reworking of every State system to recognize and set forward a reduced benefit.” It’s not yet clear what the administration will ultimately decide. USDA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked about their next steps on Saturday evening, the White House referred back to President Donald Trump’s social media post from Friday, in which he said, “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.” The court has now responded to his request for additional clarity, but the president also indicated that further delays are expected while states get the money out. In many states, it takes a week or more to load SNAP cards. In the meantime, states and cities are scrambling to fill a gaping hole in the safety net. Some have committed their own funds to bridge the gap in SNAP benefits, while others are funneling more money toward food banks, which are expected to see soaring demand. The SNAP program serves about 1 in 8 Americans.
WASHINGTON —
Millions of Americans are going without grocery benefits this weekend because of the government shutdown. Federal funding for SNAP ran out on Saturday.
Two judges ordered the Trump administration to restore payments using emergency reserves, something the White House previously said it couldn’t legally do.
Despite the rulings, people relying on the program are facing delays and uncertainty.
On Saturday, one of those judges released a more detailed written order outlining the path forward.
“There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” wrote U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, noting that a failure to do so would cause irreparable harm.
But the Trump administration still has a decision to make, Judge McConnell said, because the contingency fund alone will not cover the full cost of November benefits. McConnell said they can choose whether to find additional funding elsewhere to pay for the rest or make partial payments instead.
The Trump administration must tell the court on or before noon on Monday, Nov. 3, how it will comply with the order. If they decide to make full payments, they must do so by the end of the day on Monday. The deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 5, if they opt for partial payments.
According to the order, the administration argued in court that implementing a partial allotment for the entire country “would be exceedingly difficult, highly disruptive, and delayed, requiring a reworking of every State system to recognize and set forward a reduced benefit.”
It’s not yet clear what the administration will ultimately decide. USDA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asked about their next steps on Saturday evening, the White House referred back to President Donald Trump’s social media post from Friday, in which he said, “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.”
The court has now responded to his request for additional clarity, but the president also indicated that further delays are expected while states get the money out. In many states, it takes a week or more to load SNAP cards.
In the meantime, states and cities are scrambling to fill a gaping hole in the safety net. Some have committed their own funds to bridge the gap in SNAP benefits, while others are funneling more money toward food banks, which are expected to see soaring demand.
The SNAP program serves about 1 in 8 Americans.
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