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Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Order for Full SNAP Funding as Massachusetts Pays Delayed Benefits

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s 48-hour stay pauses lower-court mandates, with the administration citing depleted reserves.

Overview

  • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson granted a 48-hour administrative stay that halts a Rhode Island judge’s order requiring full November SNAP payments.
  • The Justice Department told the Court the contingency reserve of roughly $5 billion has been exhausted and can only support partial November benefits without new appropriations.
  • USDA said Friday it would work toward paying full November benefits during appeals, but the Supreme Court’s pause has injected new uncertainty.
  • Massachusetts loaded delayed SNAP funds to EBT cards after a state directive, with officials confirming recipients who missed a payment now have access to the money.
  • Roughly 42 million people rely on SNAP each month, and the dispute over limited reserves versus congressional authority has left payouts and timing in flux pending further court action.