Overview
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an administrative stay that freezes a Rhode Island judge’s mandate for full November SNAP funding until the First Circuit rules, plus 48 hours.
- Judge John McConnell had ordered the government to complete full payments by Friday using emergency reserves, sharply criticizing federal officials for withholding aid.
- Implementation on the ground is uneven as some states reported full disbursements already reached recipients—including Massachusetts and New Hampshire—while others issued partial payments or paused further releases after the stay.
- Michigan said more than 200,000 households received full benefits before the halt, and North Carolina reported widespread partial amounts, with over 190,000 households getting $16 or less and some as little as $4.
- The legal fight highlights a funding shortfall, with SNAP serving roughly 42 million people at an $8.5–$9 billion monthly cost versus about $4.6 billion in available contingency funds, as the administration argues only Congress can authorize the rest and Democrats accuse it of withholding aid for political ends.