President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration has requested clarification from federal courts on whether it can legally distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments as the government shutdown continues.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said government lawyers had expressed uncertainty about whether existing funds could be used for November’s SNAP disbursements, noting that two courts have issued conflicting rulings on the matter.
“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote. “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Trump said he had directed administration attorneys to seek a judicial clarification “as soon as possible.”
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” he added. “The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Trump also urged SNAP recipients to contact Senate Democrats, writing, “If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW! Here is Cryin’ Chuck Schumer’s Office Number.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides assistance to roughly 42 million Americans each month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for the program depends on congressional appropriations, which have lapsed due to the ongoing shutdown.
The president’s comments came just one day before the scheduled November 1 payment date for many recipients. The USDA has not publicly confirmed whether benefits will be issued if courts do not provide new guidance.
Trump has repeatedly accused Democrats of prolonging the shutdown for political advantage, while Democrats maintain that the White House could end the impasse by signing a short-term spending bill already approved by the Senate.
In his post, Trump referenced his earlier actions to protect military and law enforcement paychecks during the funding standoff, saying it is his duty to ensure “Americans don’t go hungry.”
As of Friday afternoon, no court filings related to SNAP funding had been publicly docketed.
