A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for 42 million Americans during the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown is likely unlawful. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani on Friday in Boston, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to report by Monday on whether it can authorize reduced SNAP benefits using disaster response funds or full benefits through emergency and additional funding.
The lawsuit was filed by leaders of 25 Democratic-run states and the District of Columbia against the USDA after the agency warned that SNAP funds had been exhausted. The states argue the administration is violating the Food and Nutrition Act, which mandates assistance for eligible households. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the contingency fund is insufficient to cover the $9.2 billion needed for November SNAP benefits and can only be used if the underlying program is funded. This fund is typically reserved for natural disasters like hurricanes.
The ruling stops short of mandating emergency funding, leaving SNAP benefits in a state of uncertainty. Saturday marked the first time in 60 years that federal SNAP funding has lapsed.
