Trump threatens to block SNAP payments despite court order
The president says his administration will only issue food assistance payments if Democrats agree to reopen the government
The president's decision would go against the ruling of two courts that the Trump administration should use emergency funds to cover food stamp assistance that benefits about 42 million people.
“SNAP benefits, which increased by billions of dollars (many times over!) during the disastrous tenure of corrupt Joe Biden (because they were 'given out' indiscriminately to anyone who asked, instead of only to those who needed them, which is the purpose of SNAP), will be given out only when the radical left Democrats reopen the government, which they can easily do, and not before!” Trump said on his Truth Social account.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will maintain the limited distribution of food aid, as it had previously announced, or completely block the program.
On Friday, two judges ruled against the Trump administration. One was Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island, who ordered the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute the aid.
“The court, orally at this time, orders the USDA to distribute the contingency money in a timely manner, or as soon as possible, so that…” “Make the payments by November 1,” his order said on October 31. That same day, Judge Indira Talwani, who sits in Boston and is overseeing the states’ case, issued a similar order. This Monday, the Trump administration informed Judge McConnell that it would use the entire remaining $4.65 billion from the contingency fund. However, it would not use at least $4 billion from the Child Nutrition Program to keep SNAP funded at least through November. “The Court should grant a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction,”“Given that the defendants’ decision not to provide full SNAP benefits—despite having the funds available to do so and the fact that switching to partial payments at this point will cause devastating delays—is arbitrary and capricious,” the plaintiffs stated. Judge McConnell ordered the Trump administration to respond to the request by Wednesday, but the president’s message appears to remain one of complete obstruction of the program.