In a decisive ruling on Thursday, a US federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by Friday, amidst the ongoing government shutdown. Chief Judge John McConnell of the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, ‘People have gone without for too long; not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.’ McConnell directed the Agriculture Department to utilize a contingency fund to ensure SNAP benefits are disbursed ‘as soon as possible.’ Earlier in the week, the department had announced that $4.65 billion from the contingency fund would cover 50% of November’s SNAP benefits. However, President Donald Trump contradicted this on Truth Social, asserting that SNAP funding would not proceed until the government reopens, blaming ‘Radical Left Democrats’ for the shutdown. McConnell’s latest order criticized the administration for partial payments and condemned Trump’s intent to defy the court’s directive. The Justice Department has indicated plans to appeal both Thursday’s ruling and McConnell’s earlier order. The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has drawn sharp criticism from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who accused Trump of ‘weaponizing hunger’ and treating vulnerable Americans as ‘political pawns.’
US federal judge orders Trump administration to fully fund SNAP food assistance by Friday
