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4h ago

Judge Orders SNAP Payments Within Days as 42 Million Lose Benefits in Shutdown

The ruling directs the administration to draw on limited contingency funds, creating a temporary fix that falls short of a full month of aid.

A President Donald Trump banner is seen on the Labor Department building as runners make their way down Pennsylvania Ave. during the 50th Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 26.
Volunteers place food items in vehicles during a mobile food distribution at Cedar Creek High School in Cedar Creek, Texas, U.S., November 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee/File Photo
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered the administration to pay full SNAP benefits by Monday or make partial payments by Wednesday and to detail its plan by Monday at noon.
  • The order instructs officials to tap contingency reserves estimated at roughly $5.25 billion to $6 billion, which the court said must be used now.
  • USDA says SNAP requires about $8.5 billion to $9 billion per month and argues it lacks clear legal authority to pay during the shutdown until Congress funds the government.
  • President Donald Trump said he has asked government lawyers to seek court guidance on how to legally fund SNAP and signaled he would proceed if permitted.
  • Food banks report surging demand as benefits lapse, with one Tampa Bay nonprofit saying requests have doubled, and experts warn any resumed payments could face delays and may need repeating in December if the shutdown continues.