Boston, November 2: Two federal judges on Friday barred President Donald Trump’s administration from suspending food aid for millions of Americans during the ongoing government shutdown, ruling that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must use contingency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) running.
The twin rulings, issued by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, came in lawsuits filed by Democratic-led states, cities, and nonprofit groups seeking to prevent the suspension of benefits that feed more than 42 million low-income Americans.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston said the administration’s claim that it was legally barred from using contingency funds to pay for SNAP during the shutdown was “erroneous.” Minutes later, U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence called the government’s refusal to release $5.25 billion in emergency funds “arbitrary,” warning that families were already facing “irreparable harm.”
Both judges ordered the administration to report back by Monday on how it would comply. It was not immediately clear whether benefits would be paid on November 1, when the next round of SNAP disbursements is due.
The USDA has said it lacks sufficient funds to cover the roughly $8.5–$9 billion per month in benefits without new congressional appropriations. McConnell suggested the agency could also draw on $23 billion from another reserve fund if necessary.
Trump said on social media that his administration was seeking legal clarity. “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will be my honor to provide the funding,” he wrote.
The rulings followed weeks of partisan wrangling over a shutdown that began October 1, with Democrats accusing the administration of weaponizing hunger amid the budget impasse.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins rejected those accusations, calling claims that contingency funds could be used without congressional approval a “lie.” She insisted the USDA’s hands were tied by law.
During a hearing on Thursday, Justice Department attorney Jason Altabet warned that issuing partial payments could prove technically difficult because of outdated state systems, calling the situation “potentially catastrophic.”
The courts’ intervention has provided temporary relief to millions who rely on SNAP — commonly known as food stamps — but uncertainty remains over whether the administration will use emergency reserves to keep the program afloat if the shutdown drags on.
