Judges order USDA to restart SNAP funding, but hungry families won’t get immediate relief

Introduction to the SNAP Funding Issue

Two federal judges told the U.S. Department of Agriculture in separate rulings Friday that it must begin using billions of dollars in contingency funding to provide federal food assistance to poor American families despite the federal shutdown, but gave the agency until Monday to decide how to do so.

Background on the Rulings

Both Obama-appointed judges rejected Trump administration arguments that more than $5 billion in USDA contingency funds could not legally be tapped to continue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for nearly 42 million people — about 1 in 8 Americans — while the federal government remains closed. But both also left unclear how exactly the relief should be provided, or when it will arrive for millions of families set to lose benefits starting Saturday.

Details of the Rulings

The two rulings came almost simultaneously Friday. In Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani stopped short of granting California and a coalition of 24 other Democrat-led states a temporary restraining order they had requested. But she ruled that the states were likely to succeed in their arguments that the USDA’s total shutoff of SNAP benefits — despite having billions in emergency contingency funds on hand — was unlawful.

Implications of the Rulings

Talwani gave USDA until Monday to tell her whether they would authorize “only reduced SNAP benefits” using the contingency funding — which would not cover the total $8.5 billion to $9 billion needed for all November benefits, according to the USDA — or would authorize “full SNAP benefits using both the Contingency Funds and additional available funds.” Separately, in Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John McConnell granted a temporary restraining order requested by nonprofit organizations, ruling from the bench that SNAP must be funded with at least the contingency funds “as soon as possible,” and requesting an update on progress by Monday.

Reaction to the Rulings

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta — whose office helped bring the states’ lawsuit — praised the decisions of the two courts, saying SNAP benefits “provide an essential hunger safety net” to 5.5 million Californians. “Simply put, the stakes could not be higher.” Skye Perryman, president and chief executive of Democracy Forward, which represented the nonprofit groups, said the ruling in that case “affirms what both the law and basic decency require” and “protects millions of families, seniors, and veterans from being used as leverage in a political fight.”

Potential Next Steps

It was not clear if the administration would appeal the rulings. President Trump wrote in a post to his Truth Social platform that he does not want Americans to go hungry and that he had instructed the government’s lawyers “to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” as it would be his “HONOR” to provide the funding with “appropriate legal direction by the Court.”

Impact on Hungry Families

While the orders were a win for states and the nation’s SNAP recipients, they do not mean that all those recipients will be spared a lapse in their food aid, state officials stressed. State and local food banks continued scrambling to prepare for a deluge of need starting Saturday. Asked Thursday if a ruling in the states’ favor would mean SNAP funds would be immediately loaded onto CalFresh and other benefits cards, Bonta said “the answer is no, unfortunately.”

Preparations for the Shutdown

“Our best estimates are that [SNAP benefit] cards could be loaded and used in about a week,” he said, calling that lag “problematic.” “There could be about a week where people are hungry and need food,” he said. For new applicants to the program, he said, it could take even longer. The rulings came as the now monthlong shutdown continued Friday with no immediate end in sight.

Conclusion

The rulings by the two federal judges are a significant development in the ongoing saga of the federal shutdown and its impact on SNAP benefits. While the orders provide some relief to hungry families, they do not guarantee immediate access to food aid, and state officials are bracing for a difficult week ahead. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further legal action and ongoing negotiations between the administration and Congress.

FAQs

1. What did the two federal judges rule regarding SNAP funding?
   The judges ruled that the USDA must begin using billions of dollars in contingency funding to provide federal food assistance to poor American families despite the federal shutdown.
2. How many people are affected by the SNAP funding issue?
   Nearly 42 million people, or about 1 in 8 Americans, are affected by the SNAP funding issue.
3. What is the timeline for implementing the judges’ rulings?
   The USDA has until Monday to decide how to implement the rulings, and it may take about a week for SNAP benefits to be loaded onto benefits cards.
4. What are state officials doing to prepare for the shutdown?
   State officials are scrambling to prepare for a deluge of need starting Saturday, with food banks and other organizations working to stock up on provisions and provide assistance to those in need.
5. What is the potential impact of the shutdown on hungry families?
   The shutdown could leave millions of families without access to food aid, with potentially devastating consequences for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and veterans.