The U.S. Supreme Court has granted permission to the Trump administration to temporarily withhold around $4 billion in funding required to fully support a food assistance program for 42 million low-income Americans during the current government shutdown. This program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, typically costs between $8.5 billion and $9 billion per month.
The administration sought this legal action in response to a judge’s order from Rhode Island that mandated full funding for the program by a certain deadline. Following the judge’s ruling, the administration provided emergency funding of $4.65 billion to cover a portion of the SNAP benefits for November. The U.S. Department of Justice argued that allowing the judge’s decision to stand would create disruption and lead to a financial strain due to an immediate demand for funds.
The judge, appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the Trump administration for allegedly withholding SNAP benefits for political motives. This decision was praised by a group of legal challengers, including cities and non-profits, represented by the Democracy Forward legal organization. The administration attempted to halt the ruling through the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was subsequently denied, prompting the emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.
