Outlook Business Desk
The Trump administration approached the US Supreme Court to block a judge’s order demanding immediate full funding of food aid benefits for 42 million low-income Americans during the ongoing government shutdown.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer sought a Supreme Court stay before 9:30 p.m. Friday, arguing that complying would require an “irretrievable transfer” of billions of dollars by day’s end.
A Rhode Island judge earlier ruled that the US Department of Agriculture must cover a $4 billion shortfall to ensure full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November recipients.
The Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s plea to pause Judge John McConnell’s order, prompting the Justice Department to urgently appeal to the Supreme Court.
Judge McConnell’s ruling followed the USDA’s decision to use $4.65 billion in emergency funds, short of the $8.5 to $9 billion needed to fully fund monthly SNAP benefits nationwide.
Even as the Justice Department fought the order, the USDA notified states it would make funds available to provide full SNAP benefits, contradicting the administration’s push for partial payments.
SNAP benefits, which halted in November for the first time in 60 years, support households earning under 130% of the poverty line, offering up to $546 monthly for a two-person family.
Food banks across the United States are struggling to meet soaring demand. Linda Nageotte, president and chief operating officer of Feeding America, said one in eight people in the country currently does not have enough to eat amid ongoing SNAP disruptions.
After the USDA memo, states like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts confirmed full benefit disbursement. Meanwhile, Governor Maura Healey criticised Trump’s move for putting citizens’ food security at risk.