Trump Administration Bows to Court Pressure on Food Stamps
In a significant reversal, President Donald Trump's administration has agreed to fully finance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, after a federal judge imposed a strict deadline. This development comes after the program experienced its first funding lapse in 61 years, leaving nearly 42 million Americans uncertain about their ability to afford groceries.
Legal Battle Over Anti-Hunger Program
The Department of Agriculture confirmed on Friday 7 November 2025 that it would immediately begin processing full payments to states while simultaneously appealing the court order mandating this action. District Judge John McConnell had given the administration just 24 hours to restore complete funding, criticising the government's failure to address administrative hurdles that prevented states from distributing even partial benefits.
The administration had initially intended to freeze all SNAP funding during the government shutdown, claiming it lacked legal authority to access emergency reserves. A notice on the USDA website last month starkly declared that "the well has run dry" and warned that "there will be no benefits issued November 1."
Following legal pressure, officials agreed to release $4.65 billion from contingency funds to cover approximately 65% of normal benefits. However, court documents revealed these partial payments could take "anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months" to reach recipients, prompting Judge McConnell's intervention.
States Report Benefits Restoration Amid Growing Crisis
By Friday afternoon, several states including California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin confirmed that SNAP recipients were beginning to receive their November benefits. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced "Food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families," a crucial development for the state's 5.5 million SNAP recipients.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, whose state supports roughly 3 million people through the program, directed state agencies to ensure full funding of federal benefits for November. She sharply criticised President Trump's actions as "senseless and un-American" and vowed to continue fighting for New York's families.
The program's brief suspension had triggered warnings from food pantries nationwide, which expressed concerns about their capacity to support the millions of households that depend on government food assistance. SNAP represents the nation's largest anti-hunger initiative, with approximately one in eight American families receiving an average of $188 per person monthly - equivalent to just $6 per day for groceries.
In his ruling, Judge McConnell emphasised the human cost of further delays, stating "people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened and needless suffering will occur." He added the poignant observation that "This should never happen in America," underscoring the unprecedented nature of the SNAP program's interruption.
