Two federal judges on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to continue SNAP emergency funding during the government shutdown. The rulings from Massachusetts and Rhode Island require the use of federal reserve funds to keep food aid flowing to millions of Americans.
The decisions offer temporary relief to families relying on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program, which serves about one in eight Americans, costs roughly $8 billion per month. The courts ruled that halting payments during the shutdown would violate the government’s legal duty to maintain food aid.
Judges Order SNAP Emergency Funding
In Providence, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell ordered the administration to use contingency funds to sustain the program. He also said existing waivers that exempt older adults, veterans, and others from work requirements must remain in place. McConnell asked for an update on progress by Monday, stressing that the issue could not wait.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a written opinion calling the suspension “unlawful.” She ruled that the USDA must pay benefits using SNAP emergency funding, either partially or fully, for November. Talwani wrote that the administration’s view that the contingency fund could not be used was “erroneous.”
Democratic attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia challenged the administration’s plan to stop payments. They argued that the USDA had both the authority and the responsibility to use the available funds.
Political Reaction to Court Orders
The rulings immediately drew political reaction. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said the judges’ decisions confirm what lawmakers have argued for weeks: “The administration is choosing not to feed Americans in need, despite knowing it must.”
President Trump responded on social media, saying he would comply once “appropriate legal direction” was provided. He also blamed Democrats for refusing to end the shutdown.
The legal fight centers on two reserve funds totaling about $28 billion. The USDA initially planned to use them to maintain payments but later reversed course, saying the funds were unavailable. The judges disagreed, ruling that those reserves are legally designated for emergencies like the current shutdown.
Benefit Delays Still Expected
Even with the rulings, delays in benefit distribution are likely. Reloading electronic benefit cards can take over a week in many states. The USDA has not announced whether it will appeal the decisions or how soon payments will resume.
Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, said the decisions avert a crisis. “Thousands of food banks and pantries across the country were bracing for disaster,” she said. “The SNAP emergency funding order gives them a lifeline, at least for now.”
Human Impact Across States
Cynthia Kirkhart, CEO of the Facing Hunger Food Bank in West Virginia, said her organization would keep extended hours over the weekend to meet the expected surge in demand. “Unless the administration moves immediately, families will still go days without benefits,” she said.
In Florida, nursing student and single mother Kristle Johnson said the uncertainty has left her anxious. She receives about $994 a month in benefits but says it’s never enough to feed her three children. “Now I’m worrying whether the next payment will come at all,” she said.
Political Tensions Remain
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the contingency funds will not sustain the program for long. At a Washington press conference, she accused Democrats of blocking budget legislation. “This shutdown is a dereliction of duty,” Rollins said.
Congress failed this week to pass a bill extending SNAP funding during the shutdown. That left the courts as the last safeguard for millions who depend on the aid.
In 2025, a family of four must earn less than $31,000 a year to qualify for SNAP. Last year, 41 million people received benefits, nearly two-thirds from families with children.
Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, said the rulings protect vulnerable households. “The courts affirmed that SNAP emergency funding must continue,” she said. “No one in America should be left hungry during a political standoff.”
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