Overview
- U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. directed the administration to secure funding and send full November SNAP payments to states by Friday.
- The court found the government acted arbitrarily in opting for partial payouts and noted many recipients may not see immediate deposits on their EBT cards.
- USDA officials earlier revised guidance after a calculation error, shifting an anticipated 50% cut to a 35% reduction, meaning up to 65% of usual benefits.
- November SNAP costs are about $8 billion, but available contingency funds total roughly $4.65–$5.0 billion, underscoring the gap the court addressed.
- Roughly 40–42 million people rely on SNAP, and the judge warned 16 million children faced immediate risk, as cities and food banks in places like Chicago and Florida mobilize emergency food aid.