US Government Shutdown: Trump Administration Seeks to Block Full Food Aid Amid Funding Uncertainty

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As the US government shutdown drags on, President Trump's administration has asked a federal appeals court to block a judge's order to distribute full monthly food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Despite the administration's request, some states have already begun issuing full benefits to SNAP recipients, citing a court order to provide the assistance. In a memo to states, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that it is working to make funds available for full monthly SNAP benefits. However, the administration has argued that the court's order to provide full benefits would exceed the available funds in the contingency reserve, which contains over $4.6 billion. States such as California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have already started issuing full benefits to their residents, with some recipients receiving their payments as early as Friday. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that food benefits are now flowing back to families, while in Wisconsin, over $104 million in monthly food benefits became available to about 337,000 households. Despite these efforts, uncertainty remains for many SNAP recipients, with some waiting in line for food assistance. A single mom in New Jersey, Jasmen Youngbey, was among those who received her monthly benefits after waiting in line at a food pantry. The legal battle over SNAP continues, with the administration arguing that the court's order to provide full benefits is unconstitutional. Attorneys for the cities and nonprofits challenging the administration's decision argue that the government has enough funds available to provide the assistance. As the situation unfolds, states are taking different approaches to food aid. While some, such as Massachusetts and New York, are working to distribute full benefits as quickly as possible, others have distributed partial payments. Amid the federal uncertainty, some states, like Delaware, are using their own funds to provide relief payments to SNAP recipients. The US government shutdown has left many SNAP recipients uncertain about when they will receive their benefits. With the administration's request to block full food aid, the situation remains fluid, and many are waiting to see how the courts will rule.