Washington: In the midst of a prolonged federal government shutdown, two U.S. judges have ordered the Donald Trump administration to tap into emergency funds to help maintain food assistance for millions of Americans in November. The rulings, issued in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, address the strain on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) caused by the shutdown.
The USDA had previously argued that it could not access a contingency fund holding approximately $5.3 billion to sustain SNAP benefits. However, both judges rejected this claim, emphasizing that the program’s operations depend on available appropriated funds.
“There is no doubt that the contingency funds are appropriated funds necessary to carry out the program’s operation,” said U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island. “The shutdown of the government through funding doesn’t do away with SNAP; it just temporarily halts its funding,” he added.
Minutes earlier, Judge Indira Talwani in Boston issued a similar order, permitting the USDA to draw from an additional $17 billion reserve to cover SNAP payments in full, although the administration has resisted using that fund, citing its role in child nutrition programs.
“This court has clarified that defendants are required to use those contingency funds as necessary for SNAP,” Talwani wrote in her 15-page ruling. She added that while the available emergency funds may not fully cover November’s costs, the administration could authorize additional transfers to prevent reductions in benefits.
SNAP, which provides food aid to low-income households, typically costs $8–9 billion per month, meaning the contingency funds would only partially meet the immediate need. Officials warned that even with the court orders, beneficiaries could face delays in receiving payments due to administrative processing time.
President Donald Trump commented on the issue, suggesting that the government could find ways to continue funding SNAP, while urging Democrats to reopen the government. “All the Democrats have to do is say, let’s go. I mean, they don’t have to do anything — all they have to do is say the government is open,” he said.
The Boston case was filed by a coalition of 25 Democratic attorneys general and governors, while the Rhode Island lawsuit came from a group of cities, non-profits, unions, and small businesses. As the shutdown nears one month, courts nationwide are increasingly involved in disputes over its consequences.
Earlier this week, a federal judge in California blocked plans to lay off thousands of federal workers, ruling that the shutdown could not justify such actions. Meanwhile, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the department is “looking at all the options” in response to the court decisions, as the administration considers possible appeals.
SNAP has historically continued to provide benefits during previous shutdowns, but the current deadlock has placed unprecedented pressure on the program and those who rely on it for food security.
