Federal Judges Halt SNAP Funding Cuts During Government Shutdown
A federal court has intervened to prevent the disruption of food assistance to millions of Americans, ordering the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using available contingency funds during the ongoing government shutdown. The decision, handed down Friday by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, comes after the administration announced it would cease reloading SNAP debit cards in November, potentially impacting over 41 million recipients.
The rulings represent a significant victory for Democratic officials from 25 states who filed suit against the administration, arguing that suspending SNAP benefits was unlawful. According to the court, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is obligated to utilize contingency funds to maintain the program’s continuity.
“Defendants’ suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that contingency funds could not be used to ensure the continuity of SNAP payments,” stated District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts in her ruling issued Thursday following a hearing in Boston. “This court has now clarified that defendants are obligated to use those contingency funds as necessary for the SNAP program.”
The judges have ordered the federal government to inform the court by Monday regarding its plan to fund the program – whether through partial benefits utilizing contingency funds or full funding leveraging both contingency funds and additional available resources. U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island issued a similar order, emphasizing the urgency given the looming deadline for benefit loss for nearly 42 million people.
The administration is expected to appeal both rulings. Government lawyers have maintained that the approximately $5 billion in contingency funds cannot legally be used to cover SNAP’s monthly cost of roughly $8 billion. However, the states argue that additional funds – around $23 billion – are accessible in a separate federal account.
“The court’s ruling protects millions of families, seniors and veterans from being used as bargaining chips in a political fight and upholds the principle that no one in America should go hungry,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, following the Rhode Island decision.
The immediate logistical implications of refilling SNAP debit cards remain unclear, with the process typically taking one to two weeks. States, food banks, and recipients have already begun preparing for potential disruptions. Many states have announced increased funding for food banks and are exploring alternative methods for distributing benefits.
Advocates for SNAP beneficiaries emphasize that cutting food assistance would force vulnerable populations to make impossible choices between food and other essential expenses. At a press conference Friday, a senior official from the USDA acknowledged that the contingency funds are not a long-term solution for SNAP funding.
The political backdrop to this legal battle is a stalled Congress. At a news conference alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, an administration spokesperson accused Democrats of “disgusting negligence” for refusing to end a Senate filibuster while simultaneously demanding an extension of healthcare funding. An attempt to secure continued SNAP funding during the shutdown failed earlier this week.
Eligibility for SNAP in 2025 requires a family of four to have a net income, after certain expenses, below the federal poverty line of approximately $31,000 annually. Last year, the program served 41 million people, with nearly two-thirds being families with children, according to the lawsuit.
The future of SNAP funding remains uncertain as the government shutdown continues and the administration prepares its appeal. The court’s intervention, however, provides a temporary reprieve for millions of Americans relying on this vital food assistance program.