Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Use Emergency Funds for November SNAP Benefits

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration must use emergency funds to partially cover SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for November, providing relief to tens of millions of Americans amid the ongoing government shutdown.

What the Ruling Says

In a 15-page decision, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani stated the Trump administration is “required” to utilize the USDA’s contingency funds, which reportedly total about $5.3 billion, to prevent interruptions in SNAP payments this month.

“This court has now clarified that Defendants are required to use those Contingency Funds as necessary for the SNAP program,” Talwani wrote. “And while these contingency funds reportedly are insufficient to cover the entire cost of SNAP for November, Defendants also may supplement the Contingency Funds by authorizing a transfer of additional funds … to avoid any reductions.”
Source: CBS News

What’s at Stake

• SNAP supports over 42 million low-income Americans, providing essential food assistance.
• Due to the federal shutdown, the USDA claimed it lacked the authority to disburse November benefits, citing a lack of congressional appropriations.
• Judge Talwani rejected this claim, saying the law allows for contingency funds to be used even in the absence of active funding legislation.
• While the funds are not enough to cover the full month, the administration is now expected to explore additional resources to avoid benefit cuts.

Background and Broader Impact

This is the second major ruling on the matter within a day. A judge in Rhode Island reached a similar conclusion, reinforcing legal pressure on the Trump administration. These rulings come as food insecurity continues to rise and as states prepare for delays in SNAP benefit distributions.

Millions of recipients still face uncertainty, as it may take days to weeks for state agencies and the USDA to fully implement the court’s order and restart benefit disbursements.

For more context, you can read the full Reuters coverage and AP update.

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