Overview
- A Rhode Island federal judge issued a written order requiring full November SNAP payments by Nov. 3 or, at minimum, partial payments by Nov. 5, with the administration to outline its plan on Monday.
- Judge John J. McConnell Jr. said USDA must use the $5.25 billion SNAP contingency fund now and pointed to Section 32, which held more than $23 billion in customs-receipt funds, to cover the remaining cost.
- USDA has argued it lacks legal authority and sufficient reserves during the shutdown, while President Trump said there are conflicting court rulings and asked judges to clarify permissible funding paths.
- SNAP benefits did not load on Nov. 1 for roughly 42 million people, and officials caution that moving federal dollars to states and reloading EBT cards could still take days or weeks.
- Food banks and nonprofits report surging demand, with organizations in places like Maine, Florida and Arizona seeing long lines and, in some cases, double the usual need as households seek stopgaps.