The Trump administration has filed an emergency appeal to block a federal court order requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to more than 42 million Americans.
Earlier this week, Judge John McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island ordered the administration to fully fund SNAP benefits by Friday, warning that withholding aid during the ongoing government shutdown would cause “irreparable harm” to families nationwide. The judge criticized the USDA’s plan to distribute reduced payments, saying it violated federal mandates that protect access to food assistance.
In its appeal to the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Trump administration argued that the judiciary lacks constitutional authority to compel specific spending decisions, claiming that “courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend.” The USDA, however, has signaled to states that it is working to comply with the order and begin issuing payments as soon as possible.
The standoff reflects growing tension between the federal government and the courts as the shutdown continues to strain essential programs. Some states, including California, Wisconsin, and Kansas, have already begun releasing full SNAP payments to avoid food insecurity and public backlash.
As the legal battle unfolds, millions of low-income Americans remain uncertain about whether their November food benefits will arrive in full—or at all.
