Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Halt on SNAP Payments

The Trump administration has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court intervene in a federal appeals court ruling requiring full payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November. This development comes during a government shutdown, which has created significant uncertainty for millions of low-income Americans who rely on these benefits for food security.

On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide the full SNAP benefits by Friday using an emergency fund of over $4.6 billion. Despite this, the administration is appealing the ruling, arguing that it should not be compelled to spend more than what is currently available from a contingency fund. Instead, officials are advocating for a continuation of planned partial payments.

As of now, SNAP serves approximately 1 in 8 Americans, primarily those with lower incomes. The maximum monthly benefit for an individual is nearly $300, while a family of four can receive close to $1,000, though many beneficiaries receive lesser amounts based on income.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated it is working to ensure funds are available for full SNAP payments. States like California and Wisconsin have already begun issuing full November payments. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that food benefits are starting to reach families, while Wisconsin’s Governor Tony Evers reported that over $104 million in monthly benefits became accessible for around 337,000 households at midnight.

In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek stated that state employees had worked overnight to ensure families could buy groceries by Friday. Officials in Kansas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania also confirmed their efforts to expedite the distribution of full benefits.

Despite quick actions from several states, many recipients remain uncertain about when they will receive their benefits. For instance, Jasmen Youngbey of Newark, New Jersey, expressed concern as she waited in line at a food pantry with a zero balance in her SNAP account. As a single mother pursuing her college education, she relies on SNAP for her two young children, ages 7 months and 4 years. Fortunately, she later reported receiving her monthly benefits.

Similarly, Tihinna Franklin, who works as a school bus guard, shared her struggle with only 9 cents left in her SNAP account. She typically depends on her monthly $290 benefits to feed her grandchildren. “If I don’t get it, I won’t be eating,” she emphasized, highlighting the precarious situation many families face.

Originally, the Trump administration had announced that SNAP benefits would be unavailable in November due to the government shutdown. However, two judges ruled that the administration could not bypass the month’s benefits entirely. One of the judges, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., mandated full payments on Thursday.

The legal battle highlights significant tensions regarding the use of emergency funds to cover costs associated with SNAP. The administration maintained that it would not access additional funds, asserting that Congress should appropriate necessary funds for the program. The monthly cost of providing full SNAP benefits ranges between $8.5 billion and $9 billion.

In its court filing, the administration argued that the court’s injunction to fund full benefits contradicted the U.S. Constitution. “This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” the U.S. Department of Justice stated.

In contrast, attorneys representing cities and nonprofits challenging the administration’s stance argued that sufficient funds are available, urging the court not to delay vital assistance for families in need.

Several states, including Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire, have indicated they are prepared to distribute full SNAP benefits in the coming days. Massachusetts anticipates payments starting as soon as Saturday, while New York expects to begin on Sunday.

Amid this federal uncertainty, Matt Meyer, the Democratic Governor of Delaware, has opted to use state funds to provide initial relief payments to SNAP recipients.

The ongoing legal proceedings and administrative decisions continue to affect the lives of millions, emphasizing the critical need for stable food assistance during challenging economic times.