BOSTON (AP) — In the wake of a U.S. government shutdown, the Trump administration has filed an appeal with a federal court to block an order requiring the distribution of full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This decision follows U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.'s ruling mandating the release of these vital funds, which support nearly one in eight Americans, many of whom are in lower-income brackets.

The administration contends that it cannot distribute more money than what is available in the existing contingency fund, prompting the appeal to suspend any court directives that would exceed these limitations. Despite this legal dispute, some states have acted swiftly; Wisconsin, for example, reported that certain SNAP recipients were already credited their full November payments on Thursday night, according to spokesperson Britt Cudaback.

This ongoing legal tussle underscores the uncertainty surrounding the SNAP program during a period of governmental instability, raising concerns about food security as holiday season approaches.