Two federal judges issued rulings on Friday blocking the Trump administration from suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) benefits for millions of low-income Americans during the ongoing government shutdown. The decisions came in separate cases brought by Democratic-led states and advocacy groups.
In Rhode Island, US District Judge John McConnell granted a temporary restraining order preventing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from halting Snap payments. The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by US cities, non-profit organisations, and a trade union, who argued the suspension was unlawful as contingency funds remained available.
Simultaneously, in Massachusetts, US District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the government must continue funding the programme, giving the administration until Monday to clarify how it would pay for November benefits. The case was brought by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, along with three governors.
The USDA had planned to suspend Snap payments from 1 November, citing insufficient funds due to the government shutdown that began on 1 October. The programme provides assistance to nearly 42 million Americans each month, costing between $8.5bn and $9bn monthly. The Trump administration argued it lacked authority to pay without a new spending bill.
President Donald Trump criticised the rulings on Truth Social, stating he did not want Americans to go hungry but blamed Democrats for the shutdown. He claimed he would instruct lawyers to seek court clarification on legally funding Snap. The plaintiffs argued that $5.25bn in contingency funds and a separate $23bn fund could be used to maintain the programme.
It remains unclear how quickly beneficiaries' debit cards can be reloaded, a process that typically takes one to two weeks. The rulings mark a significant legal setback for the administration's efforts to cut food aid during the shutdown.
