The Supreme Court issued an emergency order Friday night that temporarily blocks full payments of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Why It Matters
SNAP has become a central point of conflict during the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. Nearly 42 million Americans rely on the program to afford food, and some recipients have already faced disruptions as funding remains uncertain.
What to Know
According to the Associated Press, the Court granted the Trump administration’s request to appeal a prior ruling that would have required SNAP to be fully funded during the shutdown.
In an order written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, she noted that the administration argues that, without the Court stepping in, it would have to “transfer an estimated $4 billion by tonight” to fund SNAP benefits through November.
Justice Jackson added that, based on the First Circuit’s guidance, “an administrative stay is required” to allow the appeals court to quickly resolve the pending request to pause the lower-court decision. The emergency order blocks an earlier ruling from a Rhode Island federal judge that would have required the payments to be issued by Friday night, NBC News reported.
What People Are Saying
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, posting on X earlier Friday before the Supreme Court order: “I’ve just directed state agencies to fully fund federal SNAP benefits for November. President Trump’s actions have been senseless and un-American. I’ll never stop fighting for New York’s families.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, posting on X earlier Friday before the order: “Donald Trump is now going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to take SNAP food benefits away from Americans in need. California won’t back down in court from supporting the tens of millions of Americans the Trump Administration seemingly wants to starve.”
Trump, writing on Truth Social Tuesday: “SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly ‘handed’ to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT”
What Happens Next
The administrative stay pauses U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.’s order requiring full SNAP payments, giving the First Circuit Court of Appeals more time to review the dispute.
For now, millions of SNAP recipients remain uncertain about when they will receive benefits and whether payments will be reduced.
