US President Donald Trump's administration has finally agreed to partially fund food benefits for low-income Americans amid a prolonged government shutdown. Two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have ruled that the programme must continue, with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) required to draw from contingency funds to cover the expenses.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, serves about one in eight Americans each month and costs over $8 billion annually. The programme provides approximately $190 or $356 worth of groceries per household, typically loaded onto debit cards.
After the USDA initially stated that it would not be able to fund SNAP if the shutdown continued, federal judges intervened by ordering the administration to use contingency funds to partially fund the programme. However, the amount and timing of these funds remain unclear, with the process of loading the cards taking up to two weeks.
US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that a suspension of the programme was "unlawful" and "erroneous", while US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island asked the administration for an update on Monday, warning that irreparable harm would begin to occur if SNAP is paused.
This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing government shutdown, which has left many Americans without access to essential services. The Trump administration's initial decision to suspend benefits was widely criticized, and it appears that these judges have intervened to protect vulnerable populations from potential harm.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, serves about one in eight Americans each month and costs over $8 billion annually. The programme provides approximately $190 or $356 worth of groceries per household, typically loaded onto debit cards.
After the USDA initially stated that it would not be able to fund SNAP if the shutdown continued, federal judges intervened by ordering the administration to use contingency funds to partially fund the programme. However, the amount and timing of these funds remain unclear, with the process of loading the cards taking up to two weeks.
US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that a suspension of the programme was "unlawful" and "erroneous", while US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island asked the administration for an update on Monday, warning that irreparable harm would begin to occur if SNAP is paused.
This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing government shutdown, which has left many Americans without access to essential services. The Trump administration's initial decision to suspend benefits was widely criticized, and it appears that these judges have intervened to protect vulnerable populations from potential harm.
. I mean, can you imagine not knowing when you'll be able to get your food stamps? It's like they're taking away a lifeline for people who are already struggling. The fact that two judges had to step in and tell the administration that suspending benefits was a bad idea is a major win, imo 
. And yeah, the USDA can use contingency funds to help out – it's not rocket science 
. What I don't get is how long it took for this to happen. We need more people speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves 
.
Food for thought: this whole situation makes me wonder about the importance of community support systems 
. I mean, who gets hurt when a government shutdown happens? Not just those directly affected by the shutdown, but also the most vulnerable members of society - low-income families relying on programs like SNAP to get by 
. It's a harsh reminder that we're all connected and need each other to survive 
. And let this be a lesson: when we prioritize policies that only help the many, not just the few, we build stronger, more compassionate communities 
.
. It's crazy how something as important as food assistance can get caught up in a shutdown. The fact that two federal judges stepped in and ordered the administration to use contingency funds is a good sign - it shows they're looking out for the people who need it most 
. It's always frustrating when politics gets in the way of basic human needs.
I cant believe the government shutdown is finally being addressed! It's so unfair that millions of people are having to go without food because of this nonsense. The SNAP programme is like, literally the lifeline for so many families, and it's crazy that they were even thinking about suspending it in the first place 
. Thank goodness those judges stepped in and told them to get their act together! Now we just have to wait and see how much (if any) of the funding is going to actually make it through. Fingers crossed, right? 
can't even agree on basics like food for ppl in need... SNAP is literally the difference between life & death for so many fams out there 
it's not like they're asking for a million dollars, $8 billion is a lot but come on 
Indira Talwani and John McConnell, you're the real MVPs 
this is such a huge deal! the fact that 2 federal judges in mass and rhode island ruled that snap can't be suspended anymore is a major win for low-income fams who are already struggling. it's crazy to think that the usda was gonna just cut off food benefits for like, 40 million people 
I mean, can you believe this? The US government is like a big kid who won't let its siblings eat because they're too hungry 
! They shut down the programme for food stamps and now they're all like "Oh no, we forgot!" 
Meanwhile, people are struggling to put food on their plates. I'm just glad some judges stepped in and said "No way, Jose! 
" Those SNAP cards are like a lifeline for many families, and it's crazy that politicians were willing to take them away. Kudos to the judges for looking out for those in need 
... now we gotta wait and see how long these contingency funds last 
.
. We should be working towards solutions that benefit everyone, not just those in power 
.
I mean, come on! It's about time the government got its act together. All this back-and-forth over food stamps is just ridiculous. I'm not sure what's more concerning - that people are going without food or that our leaders can't even agree on a budget. The fact that two judges had to step in and tell them to use some common sense is just sad. 
but glad those judges stepped in tho i mean who gets left behind when politics get in the way? gotta feel for all the families relying on SNAP i hope they can get back to normal soon 
. It's crazy how they were gonna stop the food stamps, it's like... who gets left behind? 
But at least these judges stepped in and made sure the ppl aren't totally affected 
. Still, it's better than nothing, I guess?