Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Pay SNAP Benefits Amid Shutdown
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration must pay next month's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, despite the ongoing federal shutdown. The decision comes after a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 24 other states, as well as the District of Columbia.
The ruling requires the administration to use contingency funding and other available funds to cover SNAP benefits, which are critical for millions of families who rely on them to survive. However, the $6 billion in contingency dollars is insufficient to cover a full month of benefits for the 42 million Americans who rely on the aid.
Judge Indira Talwani's order gives the administration until Monday to determine whether it will use only contingency funds and offer reduced benefits or use additional monies to make full SNAP payments. The decision marks a major victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who stated that "the law requires those benefits to continue" and that the federal government cannot simply walk away from its obligation to feed vulnerable Americans.
The Trump administration had previously claimed it could not issue benefits due to the shutdown, but Judge Talwani's ruling rejects this argument. While it is unclear how quickly the money will be dispersed to recipients, payments are staggered throughout the month, and households may face delays in receiving their benefits.
New York state officials have welcomed the decision, with Governor Kathy Hochul stating that "no state should have to sue the federal government to ensure families can put food on the table." The ruling also has implications for New Jersey residents who receive SNAP benefits, as about 800,000 of them rely on the program. United Way of New York City's senior vice president and chief impact officer, Kanchana Suggu, noted that "many families are still facing uncertainty" and that food pantries will have to work around the clock to ensure they can feed as many people as possible.
The lawsuit filed by New York and other states is part of a growing trend of federal judges issuing similar rulings in response to lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's actions on SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Another federal judge in Rhode Island issued a similar ruling earlier this week, highlighting the increasing pressure on the administration to address its obligations under the law.
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration must pay next month's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, despite the ongoing federal shutdown. The decision comes after a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 24 other states, as well as the District of Columbia.
The ruling requires the administration to use contingency funding and other available funds to cover SNAP benefits, which are critical for millions of families who rely on them to survive. However, the $6 billion in contingency dollars is insufficient to cover a full month of benefits for the 42 million Americans who rely on the aid.
Judge Indira Talwani's order gives the administration until Monday to determine whether it will use only contingency funds and offer reduced benefits or use additional monies to make full SNAP payments. The decision marks a major victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who stated that "the law requires those benefits to continue" and that the federal government cannot simply walk away from its obligation to feed vulnerable Americans.
The Trump administration had previously claimed it could not issue benefits due to the shutdown, but Judge Talwani's ruling rejects this argument. While it is unclear how quickly the money will be dispersed to recipients, payments are staggered throughout the month, and households may face delays in receiving their benefits.
New York state officials have welcomed the decision, with Governor Kathy Hochul stating that "no state should have to sue the federal government to ensure families can put food on the table." The ruling also has implications for New Jersey residents who receive SNAP benefits, as about 800,000 of them rely on the program. United Way of New York City's senior vice president and chief impact officer, Kanchana Suggu, noted that "many families are still facing uncertainty" and that food pantries will have to work around the clock to ensure they can feed as many people as possible.
The lawsuit filed by New York and other states is part of a growing trend of federal judges issuing similar rulings in response to lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's actions on SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Another federal judge in Rhode Island issued a similar ruling earlier this week, highlighting the increasing pressure on the administration to address its obligations under the law.
we're talking about people who can't afford food because of a shutdown, and the government's response is to try and find ways to get out of paying up. it's not just about the money, it's about basic human dignity. judge talwani's ruling might seem like a small victory, but it's actually a big deal... it shows that even in the face of bureaucratic red tape and partisan gridlock, there are still people who care about doing what's right. and you know what? i think we should all take a page out of governor hochul's playbook and say "no state should have to sue the federal government"... because when does enough be enough? 
i get that it's a big responsibility, but come on, they're the ones in charge! shouldn't they be able to figure out how to make it work instead of passing it off onto others? and now we gotta wait to see if they'll actually follow through on this decision... it's just so frustrating 
Can you believe they were trying to say they couldn't issue benefits because of the shutdown? Like, what's next? Tellin' us we can't pay our rent cause there's a gov shutdown 
. It's ridiculous that we gotta rely on the courts to get our basic necessities. Judge Talwani finally said what needs to be said: SNAP benefits are non-negotiable! 
And I'm all for New York state officials speakin' up, Kathy Hochul is right – no state should have to deal with this nonsense 
.
. The fact that Judge Talwani's ruling is forcing them to use contingency funds and pay out benefits, even if it means reduced payments, is a huge win for vulnerable families 
. It's not just about feeding people, it's about basic human dignity and respect for those who need help most 
. And Governor Hochul is absolutely right that no state should have to sue the federal government to ensure families can put food on the table 
.
.
This is like 
so not cool fam! 
The gov is literally 
breaking promises and starving ppl 
who are already struggling to make ends meet 
. 
we just give up on people's basic needs 
. What's next? 
Are they gonna say "oh, you wanna eat, go find a dumpster" 
? 
and hopefully it'll get resolved soon 
.
. This is just another example of the government being completely incompetent and only looking out for themselves 
. gotta keep pushing for change, folks 
I'm so relieved that a judge is stepping in to ensure those struggling families get their food benefits! It's crazy that the government thought they could just stop sending out SNAP payments because of the shutdown 
. I know there's a lot at play here, but let's not forget that there's always room for improvement and growth 
!
it makes total sense - millions of people are counting on these benefits to survive and we can't just let politics get in the way 
the fact that they're only using $6 billion to cover the costs is still super concerning tho 
. The idea of 42 million people going hungry because the Trump admin can't be bothered to pay for SNAP benefits is just wild 
. It's crazy to think they were trying to skip out on this, but the law is clear: everyone needs food to survive! 
. It's awesome that she's forcing the Trump admin to pay SNAP benefits, even if it means using some limited funds 
. But because of this judge and other states filing lawsuits, those people will still get the help they need 
!
Newsflash: they're not 