Appeals Court Denies Block on Full SNAP Benefits, November Payments Due Today
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must now issue full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by the end of the day,following a Friday ruling by an appeals court that denied a request to block a judge’s order. This decision impacts millions of Americans relying on the program for food assistance.
The legal battle stems from the administration’s initial plan to partially fund November SNAP benefits after being ordered by two federal judges to release the full payments. initially, the USDA indicated the full rollout could take “a few weeks to up to several months.”
USDA Estimates Revised amid Criticism
On Thursday, the USDA revised its estimates, suggesting some recipients would receive approximately 65% of their usual November benefits, while others would receive even less. These revised figures were later acknowledged by officials as containing errors. The shifting estimates drew sharp criticism from U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell Jr., who on thursday ordered the USDA to pay November benefits in full by Friday.
“The administration’s delay in releasing these crucial funds is unacceptable,” Judge McConnell stated in his ruling.
The White House deferred comment on the matter to the Office of Management and Budget.
Legal Battle continues, but Immediate Relief Secured
While Friday’s decision upholds Judge McConnell’s Thursday ruling, the legal fight is not entirely over.The court’s decision does not preclude the possibility of a stay being granted on benefits at a later date. However, for now, the immediate priority is ensuring full SNAP benefits are distributed to eligible recipients.
this ruling represents a important victory for advocates of food security and a critical lifeline for vulnerable populations. the USDA is now under pressure to swiftly and accurately distribute the required funds.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details becomes available.
