Overview
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an administrative pause on the Rhode Island judge’s full-payment mandate, to remain in effect while the appeals court weighs a longer suspension.
- The administration told courts it plans partial November payouts of up to 65% of normal SNAP benefits, citing roughly $4.6–$5.0 billion in contingency funds against $8–$9 billion in monthly program costs.
- Before the pause, some states including California, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Kansas and Pennsylvania processed full payments for some recipients, while others proceeded with partial disbursements or awaited federal guidance.
- U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had ordered the government to fund full November benefits by Friday, prompting a Justice Department appeal arguing separation-of-powers concerns and drawing public criticism of the ruling from President Donald Trump.
- Roughly 40–42 million people face delayed or reduced support, with food banks reporting heightened demand and a patchwork of state stopgaps such as Connecticut and Delaware deploying limited state funds.