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Federal Judges Rule Against Trump Administration's Plan to Pause SNAP Benefits

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A federal judge in Boston and a federal judge in Rhode Island have issued orders requiring the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to millions of low-income households amid the ongoing government shutdown. The USDA had planned to pause the program due to a lack of funding, but the judges have ruled that the administration's decision was illegal. Despite this, delays in benefit payments are still likely due to the time it takes to move money from the federal government to states and vendors. The situation remains unresolved, with the parties on Capitol Hill appearing no closer to reaching an agreement on a stopgap spending bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) planned to pause the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million people due to a lack of funding, but a federal judge in Boston and a federal judge in Rhode Island have ruled that the decision was illegal.
  • The judges ordered the USDA to continue providing SNAP benefits, but gave the administration until Monday to respond to the findings.
  • Despite the court orders, delays in benefit payments are still likely due to the time it takes to move money from the federal government to states and vendors.
  • The situation remains unresolved, with the parties on Capitol Hill appearing no closer to reaching an agreement on a stopgap spending bill.
  • US Rep. Rosa DeLauro said benefit payments will likely be delayed by several days or more and blamed the situation on the administration's refusal to spend from the contingency fund.
  • A senior legislative director for the National Conference of State Legislatures said that even if the Trump administration immediately complied with the court order, the process of moving money from the US Treasury to states to vendors to beneficiaries takes time.
  • The states generally release SNAP funds to beneficiaries on a staggered basis, meaning that different beneficiaries receive their allotments on different days of the month.
  • The parties on Capitol Hill appeared no closer to reaching an agreement on a stopgap spending bill, with House Republicans urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to get his caucus behind the House-passed GOP measure to reopen the government.

Statistics:

  • 42 million people who rely on SNAP benefits will be affected by the administration's decision to pause the program.
  • The USDA's contingency fund is estimated to be around $6 billion, which is sufficient to cover SNAP benefits, according to Judge Indira Talwani.
  • The Trump administration's shutdown plan published on September 30 called for SNAP benefits to continue during a shutdown because the contingency fund existed.
  • 25 states, the District of Columbia, and a group of nonprofit organizations have sued the administration over its decision to pause SNAP benefits.
  • 6 billion people will be affected by the shutdown, with many facing delays in benefit payments.

Sources:

  • "Boston federal judge rules against Trump administration's plan to pause SNAP benefits" by The Boston Globe
  • "Rhode Island federal judge orders USDA to continue SNAP payments" by The Providence Journal
  • "USDA says contingency fund can't flow in shutdown" by CNN
  • "Shutdown's double whammy: SNAP food benefits ending and federal workers go unpaid" by News from the States
  • "Effects of the government shutdown spread on Day 31 with health costs, food, flights" by News from the States

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