Federal Judges Order Trump Administration to Fully Fund November SNAP Benefits
Federal judges ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November SNAP benefits, reversing an initial partial payment plan due to the federal shutdown, ensuring recipients receive full allotments.
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Overview
- Multiple federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, ensuring recipients receive their complete monthly allotments.
- This judicial directive reverses the administration's initial plan to cover only 65% of the maximum benefit, which was a response to the federal shutdown.
- Judge McConnell specifically mandated the Trump administration to fully fund benefits by Friday, citing unacceptable delays in fund release by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- The judges' orders require the Trump administration to utilize an emergency or contingency fund to cover the full cost of the November SNAP benefits.
- This intervention ensures that eligible Americans will receive 100% of their food stamp benefits for November, mitigating potential financial hardship for recipients.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the urgency and humanitarian impact of the SNAP funding crisis. They prominently feature the judge's strong condemnations of the administration's actions and the advocacy group's critical statements, structuring the narrative to highlight the legal obligation and potential harm to recipients, positioning the judge's order as a crucial intervention.
"The judge, who is based in Rhode Island, also criticised President Donald Trump for saying that benefits would only be distributed after the government shutdown ends, calling it "an intent to defy the court order.""
BBC News"This is the first time that SNAP's food safety net money has been delayed in the program's 60-year history, despite it being used in at least two previous shutdowns."
USA TODAY"A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to find the money by Friday to fully fund SNAP benefits for November."
Chicago Tribune"The memorandum to the states provided no additional information about how the funds would be distributed or when, two questions that have left the nation's 42 million SNAP recipients scrambling."
USA TODAY"As a result, eligible Americans will receive up to 65% of their benefits, more than the initial 50% that states had been directed to implement earlier this week."
CBS NewsArticles (8)
Center (5)
FAQ
The Trump administration initially planned to fund only 65% of SNAP benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which limited available funds. The USDA relied on contingency funds and adjusted the benefit amount to stretch those resources, but a court order later required full funding.
The contingency fund is a reserve set aside by the federal government to cover SNAP benefits during emergencies or funding shortfalls, such as during a government shutdown. In this case, the USDA determined that the contingency fund could cover full November benefits, leading to the court-ordered reversal of partial payments.
Approximately 42 million low-income Americans are affected by the SNAP benefit changes in November 2025, including around 16 million children who were at risk of going hungry if full benefits were not provided.
Judge McConnell ordered full SNAP funding because he found it unacceptable to delay payments further, especially given the risk of hunger for millions of children and families. He criticized the administration for defying court orders and not using available emergency funds to ensure timely, full payments.
SNAP recipients are expected to receive their full November benefits by Friday, November 7, 2025, as mandated by the federal judge's order, reversing the earlier plan for partial payments.
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