In brief
The Trump administration has requested a federal appeals court to obstruct a judge's ruling mandating the distribution of full November SNAP benefits during a government shutdown. This request comes despite reports from Wisconsin indicating that some SNAP recipients had already received their complete benefits. The ongoing court battles add to the uncertainty surrounding the food assistance program that supports approximately one in eight Americans, particularly those with lower incomes.
BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking a federal appeals court to intervene and prevent the distribution of full November SNAP benefits due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. A ruling from U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had previously mandated the administration to release these payments by a set deadline. However, officials from Trump's administration are appealing to suspend any court orders that would require expenditures exceeding available contingency funds.
This legal move occurs amidst reports from Wisconsin, where Gov. Tony Evers’ spokesperson confirmed on Friday that some SNAP recipients had received their full November benefits overnight. Recipients in the state have reported updated account balances reflecting this distribution.
The legal disputes surrounding this issue have resulted in prolonged uncertainty for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves about one in eight Americans, primarily those with lower incomes. As states begin to navigate this complex situation, the impact of the shutdown on food assistance remains a critical concern for many families across the country.
