Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Full SNAP Benefits Amid Shutdown

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to fully fund November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, amid an ongoing government shutdown.

This decision, issued late on Friday by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, pauses an earlier ruling that mandated the administration to provide approximately $4 billion in benefits, allowing the appeals court time to deliberate on the case.

As the legal battles unfolded, several states, including New York and California, had begun issuing full SNAP benefits, creating confusion over the status of the program. According to ABC News, at least nine states had already started distributing full SNAP benefits based on guidance from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, despite the appeal from the Trump administration. The administration's appeal was based on claims that complying with the court order would necessitate reallocating funds from other critical programs, such as school meals for children.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the lower court's ruling as an example of 'judicial activism' and expressed concern that the ruling would complicate the government's ability to manage limited federal resources.

Judge John McConnell Jr., who issued the original ruling, accused the Trump administration of withholding SNAP payments for political reasons, stating that the failure to make payments was unacceptable given the need for assistance among millions of Americans.

NPR reported that nearly 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits, primarily low-income families and vulnerable populations. The Supreme Court's decision to pause the funding order means that states will revert to the previous instructions for partial payments, which the Trump administration had indicated earlier.

The legal dispute reflects broader tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary, particularly regarding the administration's handling of food assistance programs during the shutdown. The situation remains fluid as the appeals court is expected to issue a more definitive ruling soon, which could either reinstate the lower court's order or allow the administration's appeal to proceed.

Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York expressed outrage at the administration's actions, emphasizing the immediate impact on families in need and describing the decision to appeal as cruel. The developments highlight the precarious nature of food assistance amid budgetary constraints and the ongoing government shutdown, with many citizens left uncertain about their access to essential benefits.