The Trump administration has issued a directive ordering states to immediately reverse actions taken to fully fund November food assistance benefits, creating significant uncertainty for millions of low-income Americans who depend on the program.
Legal Battle Over Food Assistance
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, the US Agriculture Department released a memo on Saturday instructing states to "immediately undo" any measures they had taken to provide complete November benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The administration warned that states failing to comply could face financial penalties.
This development follows the Trump administration's request to an appeals court to pause a judge's order that required the US government to fully fund November's SNAP benefits by Friday. US District Judge John McConnell had previously ordered the administration to utilize alternative reserve funds to distribute the necessary $8.5 billion to $9 billion to states for this month's food assistance.
Supreme Court Intervention and Ongoing Legal Challenges
The US Supreme Court temporarily halted the judge's order to allow an appeals court additional time for review. This decision permits the Trump administration to withhold approximately $4 billion in food assistance for the time being.
The administration is currently challenging the decision in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing in its Friday filing that sufficient funds only exist to cover partial SNAP benefits for November. Following an earlier court loss, the administration had committed to covering 65% of benefits for November. Officials have indicated that the legal process could extend for weeks or even months before resolution.
Political Reactions and Impact on Vulnerable Populations
Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota, the leading Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, expressed strong criticism of the administration's actions. In an official statement, she asserted that the Trump administration appears to be "demanding that food assistance be taken away from households that have already received it."
"They would rather go door to door, taking away people's food, than do the right thing and fully fund SNAP for November so that struggling veterans, seniors, and children can keep food on the table," Craig emphasized. The SNAP program provides essential nutritional support to approximately 42 million low-income Americans, making this legal battle particularly consequential for vulnerable populations across the nation.
