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Food assistance

Trump Faces Deadline to Reinstates Food Benefits as Government Shutdown Enters 34th Day

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

President Donald Trump is facing a deadline of noon to respond to a federal judge's ruling that food benefits must be reinstated due to the ongoing government shutdown. Two federal judges, in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have ruled that the Trump administration must continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits despite the shutdown. The administration had cut off federal SNAP funds, which were expected to be dispersed to states on Saturday. The judges have ordered the administration to issue either the full SNAP funds by the end of the day on Monday or partial funds by Wednesday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration has until noon to respond to a federal judge's ruling that food benefits must be reinstated amid the 34th day of the government shutdown.
  • Two federal judges have ruled that the administration must continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits despite the shutdown.
  • The administration had cut off federal SNAP funds, which were expected to be dispersed to states on Saturday.
  • In his decision, U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordered the administration to issue the full SNAP funds by the end of the day on Monday or partial funds by Wednesday.
  • The administration must notify the court of what it plans to do by noon on Monday.
  • NBC News reported that in order for the government to make the full payment, it would have to find money beyond the contingency fund.
  • The Senate was expected to reconvene at 3 p.m. on Monday, though no vote is scheduled on a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government.
  • Trump has called for Senate Republicans to "get rid of the filibuster" to pass the stopgap funding bill with a simple majority.
  • Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota has expressed opposition to invoking the nuclear option, fearing Democrats would use it as precedent in the future.
  • The federal government shutdown is one day shy of the 35-day shutdown record set in 2019.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously paid out SNAP benefits using a contingency fund during previous federal government shutdowns.

Statistics:

  • 34: The number of days the government shutdown has lasted, one day shy of the 35-day record set in 2019.
  • 2019: The year in which a 35-day government shutdown was recorded.
  • 3: The time the Senate was expected to reconvene on Monday.
  • 60: The number of votes typically required to pass legislation in the Senate, which would be eliminated if the nuclear option is invoked.
  • 2019: The year in which a government shutdown lasting over 30 days was recorded.

Sources:

  • NBC News
  • ABC News
  • Nov. 3 (UPI)

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