A federal judge on Friday halted the Trump administration from cutting off payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), safeguarding food benefits for more than 40 million Americans—at least temporarily—as the government shutdown extended into its fifth week.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tap into a $5.25 billion emergency contingency fund to continue issuing benefits. While that fund falls short of the roughly $9 billion needed to fully cover November’s assistance, the order prevents SNAP benefits from stopping entirely beginning this weekend.
“SNAP benefits have never, until now, been terminated,” McConnell said during the hearing. He noted that the federal government has previously acknowledged that contingency funds may be used during shutdowns, stating that the same step was taken in 2019 when a different budget impasse threatened the program.
The judge instructed USDA officials to distribute the emergency funds “timely or as soon as possible” and to update the court on their progress by Monday.
Growing Pressure as Shutdown Continues
The threatened lapse in benefits had become one of the most visible and urgent consequences of the ongoing shutdown. With millions of households depending on SNAP to afford groceries, hunger relief organizations and state agencies warned of immediate hardship if the program were cut off.
Even some Republican senators—who have largely supported the administration’s approach during the budget stalemate—expressed concern about the political and economic fallout if SNAP benefits dried up in their states.
Friday’s ruling eases some of that pressure but does not resolve the underlying funding issue. Once the emergency fund runs out, the USDA is not currently required to continue SNAP payments unless additional funding is approved by Congress or the administration chooses to draw from an alternative reserve.
Legal Challenges Mount
The judge’s decision came in response to lawsuits filed by multiple Democratic-led states, as well as a separate filing led by cities and advocacy groups. Both lawsuits argue that the administration is violating federal law by refusing to use available funds to maintain the program during the shutdown.
McConnell, who is overseeing the challenge brought by the cities and private organizations, issued his ruling just moments after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston—who is presiding over the states’ lawsuit—ordered the government to explain by Monday how it plans to use the emergency funds. Her order strongly suggested she may soon issue a similar block on the cutoff.
“The shutdown is absolutely an emergency for our clients,” said Michael Torcello, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. “As of tomorrow, these benefits will not be available to millions of Americans.”
Administration Pushes Back
The Trump administration has resisted using the contingency funds, arguing in court that paying only partial benefits would create confusion and potential system failures. Government attorneys said recalculating reduced benefit amounts would require major technical and administrative changes that states may not be able to implement in time.
“Such a partial payment has never been made — and for good reason,” the administration wrote in legal filings. They also warned it could spark a “run on the bank” as states and recipients scramble to capture funds before they run out.
While the administration does have access to a separate funding source, known as Section 32 funds, both judges noted that using those funds is at the administration’s discretion—not something the court can compel.
“If there’s no appropriation, there really is no program,” Justice Department attorney Tyler Becker argued, maintaining that the government cannot create funding beyond what Congress authorizes.
What Happens Next
For now, SNAP recipients will not see an immediate interruption in benefits. But the emergency funds are only a short-term stopgap. If the shutdown continues and no additional money is allocated, households could again face uncertainty.
The USDA is expected to report back to the court on Monday with details about how soon benefits will be distributed and how long the emergency funds are expected to last.
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