Overview
- The Court issued an administrative stay that pauses rulings requiring immediate restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments during the shutdown.
- The stay allows the administration to hold back about $4 billion in November benefits, affecting approximately 42 million people who rely on food assistance.
- A Rhode Island federal judge had ordered full funding to resume, warning of unacceptable harm and highlighting risks to millions of children.
- The administration contends it lacks legal authority to repurpose the disputed funds for social programs during a lapse in appropriations, and the Justice Department appealed the order.
- Some states, including Oregon and New York, have begun deploying limited state funds for small emergency payments while the legal process continues.