Trump Administration to Provide Full November Food Stamp Benefits Amidst Legal Battle and Supreme Court Appeal
The Trump administration will provide full November SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans, despite appealing a federal court order and seeking Supreme Court intervention during a government shutdown.
Trump asks Supreme Court to halt order to issue full SNAP benefits
Washington Examiner
Trump Admin Appeals Order To Fully Fund SNAP
Joe.My.God.
Overview
- U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November's SNAP benefits for millions, directing the use of over $4 billion from emergency funds by November 7.
- The Trump administration appealed Judge McConnell's order, arguing it overstepped judicial authority and sought Supreme Court intervention after a federal appeals court rejected their attempt to block the ruling.
- The food stamp program faced legal limbo due to a government shutdown, affecting nearly 42 million Americans who rely on these benefits, with delayed payments and funding concerns.
- Despite the ongoing legal dispute, multiple states including Wisconsin, Oregon, New York, and Massachusetts, proceeded to issue full SNAP benefits to their residents.
- Ultimately, the Trump administration and USDA announced they would provide full SNAP benefits for November, working to comply with the court order while continuing their legal appeal.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, presenting a balanced account of the legal dispute over SNAP benefits. They avoid loaded language in their own reporting and provide arguments from all key parties involved, including the Trump administration, the district judge, and an advocacy group. The coverage focuses on factual reporting of court actions and legal arguments.
"The Trump administration's request for the Supreme Court to freeze the order requiring full SNAP benefits highlights the ongoing legal and political turmoil surrounding food assistance for millions of Americans."
CBS News"After a week of stress-inducing delays, SNAP benefits began to trickle in for some recipients on Friday, with more payments expected to arrive now that the Trump administration has begun to fully fund the program during the government shutdown."
NBC News"Events seemed to overtake the administration's move Friday, as more and more states told residents they would soon receive their full SNAP benefits."
NPR"The administration argues there's no legal basis to direct the government "to somehow find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions" because Congress hasn't passed a budget for the year."
USA TODAY"But when and whether those benefits will reach the 42 million Americans who rely on them to eat remains an open question."
USA TODAY"The confirmation from the USDA marks what appears to be the end of one of the major through-points of the longest government shutdown in US history."
BBC News"The USDA is working to comply with a federal judge's order to provide full food benefits to roughly 42 million Americans through November."
CBS News"The GOP plan still faces headwinds, and may not earn enough support from Democrats to move forward Friday."
CBS News"The court wrangling prolonged weeks of uncertainty for the food program that serves about 1 in 8 Americans, mostly with lower incomes."
Associated Press"The judge, in his order Thursday, directly rebuked President Donald Trump for stating "his intent to defy" a court order when Trump said earlier this week that SNAP will not be funded until the government reopens from the ongoing government shutdown."
ABC News"The judge wrote in his order that any disruption to child food assistance is "hypothetical" and not projected to occur before May of 2026, "if at all.""
USA TODAY"Some families whose EBT cards were due to be reloaded already this week have reported skipping meals or subsisting on the meager foods remaining in their pantries, such as cereal or ramen."
NBC News"Judge McConnell criticized the Trump administration for only making a partial payment when it had additional emergency funds and knew the payments would not be delivered in time to comply with his court order."
ABC News"The judge granted a request from municipalities and nonprofit organizations to order the administration to provide the full food benefits."
CBS News"A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November."
Chicago Sun-Times"The temporary lapse in SNAP benefits has already had dire impacts on families whose electronic benefits cards were due to be reloaded the first week of November."
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FAQ
U.S. District Judge John McConnell required the Trump administration to make full November SNAP payments by tapping into the program’s $4.6 billion contingency fund, after ruling that the administration’s refusal to use these emergency funds during a government shutdown was unlawful. The judge gave the administration a deadline to distribute the benefits, emphasizing the harm to recipients if payments were delayed[1].
The Trump administration complied with the court order to avoid immediate legal consequences for beneficiaries but simultaneously appealed, arguing that the court overstepped its authority by mandating executive spending. The administration sought Supreme Court intervention after a federal appeals court rejected their request to block the ruling, maintaining their position that courts cannot appropriate funds[1].
Several states, including California and Wisconsin, moved quickly to distribute full November SNAP payments once the court order was issued, despite confusion over federal guidance. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, warned of potential delays up to three weeks due to the need to reprogram their systems for changing benefit amounts. The process has been described as a logistical challenge for state agencies.
The government shutdown has drained the SNAP contingency fund, raising concerns about how future monthly benefits will be funded if the shutdown continues. The Trump administration has stated it does not want to keep using emergency funds, and Republicans are urging Democrats to support a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government and restore full SNAP benefits[5].
The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for an individual is nearly $300, and for a family of four, up to $1,000, though most receive less based on income. Although the court ordered full benefits for November, the actual amount each recipient gets in November may still be less than usual for some, as USDA calculations initially indicated a 50% reduction, then revised that to a 35% reduction, meaning most will receive about 65% of their typical benefit.
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