The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to halt a judge’s order requiring it to fully fund November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. The move came even as several states began issuing payments to low-income families.
The administration’s request on Friday seeks to suspend a ruling that directed it to disburse full benefits, arguing that doing so would exceed the money available in its contingency fund. Instead, it wants permission to continue partial payments for the month.
The appeal followed a Thursday order from U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who instructed the government to release complete benefits, rejecting the administration’s plan to cover only 65 percent of the monthly allotment. In his decision, McConnell said withholding aid would unlawfully deprive millions of Americans of food support amid a shutdown.
READ ALSO: Trump administration ordered to fully fund SNAP benefits in November after judge’s ruling
By Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told states it was working to make the full funds available. Officials in California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin confirmed that some recipients had already received their November payments.
“Food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families,” said Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In Wisconsin, more than $104 million in benefits were credited at midnight to around 337,000 households. Gov. Tony Evers’ office said the state processed payments within hours of the court order by working with its electronic benefits vendor.
Other states, including North Carolina, Illinois, and Louisiana, reported issuing partial payments while awaiting federal direction.
The uncertainty over SNAP has caused deep anxiety for millions who depend on it. The program serves roughly one in eight Americans, most of them low-income households. Individuals can receive up to $300 monthly, and a family of four can get nearly $1,000, though many receive less based on income.
READ ALSO: Trump administration bows to legal pressure, promises partial SNAP aid in November
In Newark, New Jersey, single mother and college student Jasmen Youngbey indicated that her SNAP balance showed zero as she waited in line at a food pantry Friday. “Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now,” she said in an AP report. Later that day, her benefits arrived.
Nearby, school bus guard Tihinna Franklin said her account balance was just nine cents. “If I don’t get it, I won’t be eating,” she said. “My money I get paid for, that goes to the bills, rent, electricity, personal items. That is not fair to us as mothers and caregivers.”
The administration’s partial-payment plan has faced widespread criticism. Two federal judges last week ruled that the government must use its $4.6 billion emergency reserve fund to ensure November benefits are paid in full, with additional flexibility to draw from other sources if needed.
The Trump administration appeals a court order requiring full November SNAP payments as states rush to deliver food aid during the government shutdown.
Despite those rulings, the Justice Department argued in its Friday filing that the order violates constitutional limits. “This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” the department wrote.
Attorneys representing cities and nonprofits pushing for full payments countered that the administration is using legal technicalities to delay aid. They urged the appeals court to uphold the lower court’s ruling, saying families cannot afford further disruption.
Meanwhile, several governors moved swiftly to reassure residents. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said full SNAP payments should reach recipients by Saturday, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte expected distributions to begin over the weekend. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said residents would receive benefits “within days.”
In Delaware, Gov. Matt Meyer revealed the state tapped its own budget to deliver emergency payments to SNAP households as a stopgap measure while awaiting federal funds.
READ ALSO: Judges compel Trump administration to fund SNAP using emergency reserves during shutdown
