Over 42 million Americans are anxiously awaiting a critical decision from the Trump administration regarding the use of emergency funds to sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have mandated the administration to provide updates by Monday at 12:00 EST (17:00 GMT) on how it plans to allocate $5.25 billion in emergency funds to ensure partial SNAP payments. This comes as the program faces a funding crisis due to the prolonged US government shutdown, which began on October 1 after Congress failed to agree on a budget. Since Saturday, millions of Americans have been left without essential food assistance as SNAP funds have been exhausted. While individual states manage the distribution of benefits, the program relies entirely on federal funding, which has been suspended during the shutdown. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that the administration is exploring legal avenues to reallocate funds, with payments potentially resuming as early as Wednesday. However, the process remains uncertain. Half of the US states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against the administration, arguing that it has a legal obligation to continue the program. Meanwhile, some states have pledged to use their own resources to fund SNAP benefits temporarily. SNAP is a lifeline for low-income families, providing reloadable debit cards to purchase groceries. On average, a family of four receives $715 per month, equating to less than $6 per person daily. The ongoing uncertainty has left millions of vulnerable Americans in a precarious position, highlighting the broader impacts of the government shutdown.
SNAP benefits in limbo as judges press Trump administration to fund food aid
