BOSTON — A pair of judges may rule as early as Friday on whether the Trump administration must restore SNAP food aid benefits for millions of households during November, amidst an ongoing government shutdown. About one in eight Americans relies on this program, and the outcome could directly affect their ability to purchase groceries.
Even if the judges decide in favor of continuing the benefits, delays in reloading the debit cards used for SNAP purchases are expected. This process could take one to two weeks, which means that many recipients may not see funds in time for the start of November.
During a hearing in Boston on Thursday, a federal judge expressed skepticism regarding the administration's reasoning for potentially halting benefits during the shutdown. Judge Indira Talwani indicated that if the government lacks the funds, there are procedures to equitably reduce benefits rather than suspending them entirely.
Talwani suggested that the government might need to allocate emergency funds to support SNAP, interpreting this as a congressional expectation when agency funding runs out. If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” she commented. You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.
Government lawyers argue that a contingency fund containing $5 billion is not legally usable for SNAP, while states involved in the legal battle believe it should be used, pointing to additional funds available in a secondary account.
Talwani's ruling, should it occur, would apply to all states, potentially contrary to Supreme Court limitations on nationwide injunctions.
A second hearing concerning similar challenges from cities and nonprofit organizations is also on the docket for Friday, with likely appeals expected regardless of the judges' rulings.
As the shutdown stretches on, many states, food banks, and SNAP recipients are preparing for significant changes in how assistance is distributed, with several states announcing expedited assistance or alternative strategies to load benefits onto SNAP cards. Advocates warn that not maintaining aid could force vulnerable households to make impossible choices between buying food and paying other essential bills.
According to current SNAP eligibility guidelines, a family of four's net income must remain below approximately $31,000 annually. Just last year, SNAP provided vital support to 41 million Americans, a majority of whom were families with children.
