US Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Full Funding for Food Aid Amid Government Shutdown, Leaving Millions at Risk

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In a move that has left millions of low-income Americans uncertain about their food aid, the US Supreme Court has granted a temporary reprieve to the Trump administration's request to withhold $4 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The program supports approximately 42 million people. The court's decision, known as an administrative stay, gives a lower court more time to consider the administration's request to only partially fund SNAP for November. This comes as the federal government remains shut down, and a judge-ordered deadline loomed for the administration to fully fund the program. US District Judge John McConnell had ordered the USDA to use emergency SNAP funding to cover part of this month's cost and make up for the shortfall with money from a separate department program. However, the administration argued that McConnell's ruling would 'sow further shutdown chaos' and asked the 1st Circuit to halt the order. The plaintiffs, comprising cities and nonprofits, argued that the administration's actions would harm nearly one in eight Americans who rely on SNAP benefits. The 1st Circuit has yet to issue a ruling on the administration's formal request to halt the judge's order. Despite the administration's request, the USDA informed states that it would make funds available to fully fund SNAP. States like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have directed their agencies to issue SNAP benefits in full for November. SNAP benefits lapsed at the start of the month for the first time in the program's 60-year history, leaving recipients to rely on food pantries and make tough sacrifices. The maximum monthly benefit for a one-person household is $298, and for a two-person household, it is $546. The Supreme Court's decision has left millions of Americans uncertain about their food aid. The court will continue to monitor the situation, and a ruling is expected soon. In the meantime, states are moving forward with issuing SNAP benefits in full, despite the administration's request to block full funding.