A Judge Steps In to Keep Food on the Table
A recent court decision has put a spotlight on the ongoing struggle to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, running smoothly.
Judge's Order and Criticism
Judge John J. McConnell Jr. from the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits for about 42 million low-income Americans. This is not the first time the judge has had to step in. Earlier, he had already criticized the government for delaying these crucial payments during the shutdown.
The judge was not pleased. He pointed out that the administration had ignored his earlier order to restart SNAP payments quickly. He even suggested that the delay might have been intentional, possibly for political reasons. The judge also mentioned President Trump's recent threat to halt all food stamp payments until the shutdown ended. Even though the White House later tried to downplay these remarks, the judge saw them as a clear sign of non-compliance with court orders.
Impact on Low-Income Families
The judge's frustration was clear. He emphasized that millions of poor families could go hungry without reliable federal aid. He gave the government a deadline: make the SNAP payments by Friday. The ruling was a win for cities, religious groups, and nonprofits that had sued the Trump administration to keep the food stamp program running. SNAP helps about one in eight Americans, but it was at risk of shutting down in November because the White House refused to fund the benefits.
Government's Response and Delays
The Agriculture Department admitted it had enough funds to continue the program. However, it took two federal court orders before the Trump administration agreed to restart the payments. After the judge's first directive, the administration announced it would provide partial payments this month. But local officials quickly objected, saying the new rules were too complex and could delay payments for weeks.
Many families were at risk of receiving nothing this month because of the way the Agriculture Department had required states to calculate benefits. The agency later admitted it had made a mistake and updated its policies, but this only caused more delays. Local leaders went back to court, asking the government to use additional leftover funds to pay SNAP benefits in full and on time. Kristin Bateman, a lawyer representing the cities and nonprofits that had sued, accused the administration of trying to use people's hunger as a political tool.
States' Legal Actions
About two dozen states have also sued the Trump administration, asking a federal court in Massachusetts to force the Agriculture Department to fully fund the benefits. They argued that the government's actions would cause unnecessary delays and asked the court to intervene.