A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to secure funding by Friday to fully cover SNAP benefits for November.
The ruling, issued on Thursday by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., responds to challenges from cities and nonprofits concerned that the administration was only offering to cover 65% of the maximum benefit.
“The defendants failed to consider the practical consequences associated with this decision to only partially fund SNAP,” McConnell stated. “They knew that there would be a long delay in paying partial SNAP payments and failed to consider the harms individuals who rely on those benefits would suffer.”
Last month, the Trump administration announced it would not pay SNAP benefits for November due to the federal government shutdown. However, following legal pressure, two judges ordered the government to pay at least partial benefits using an emergency fund. Initially, the administration agreed to cover half of the benefits, but has since increased its offer to 65%.
The plaintiffs continue to advocate for full funding of the benefits.
SNAP, which serves about 1 in 8 Americans, is a critical component of the nation’s social safety net and costs more than $8 billion per month nationally. The USDA’s announcement last month triggered urgent efforts by food banks, state governments, and millions of Americans to maintain access to groceries during this period.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
https://abc7.com/post/federal-judge-orders-trump-administration-fully-fund-snap-benefits-november/18122036/
