A late-night directive from the Department of Agriculture sent shockwaves through state agencies Saturday, demanding an immediate reversal of actions taken to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. The order came swiftly, triggered by a dramatic intervention from the nation’s highest court.
The Supreme Court granted the Department of Agriculture a temporary stay, effectively pausing a lower court order that had mandated full SNAP benefit payments. This legal battle unfolded against a backdrop of political tension, stemming from a funding impasse known as the “Schumer Shutdown.”
The initial order, issued by a Rhode Island district court judge, compelled the administration to redirect funds from child nutrition programs to cover the full SNAP allotments. This decision ignited a fierce legal challenge, escalating rapidly through the court system.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals initially sided with the district judge, reinforcing the mandate to deliver full SNAP benefits to states by a rapidly approaching deadline. However, that victory proved short-lived.
Just hours later, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson intervened, issuing an administrative stay that temporarily halted the lower court’s ruling. This action bought time for the First Circuit Court of Appeals to re-examine the case.
The Department of Agriculture’s memo to states was blunt: any full SNAP payment files already sent were deemed “unauthorized.” States were instructed to immediately revert to processing benefit files reflecting a 35% reduction in maximum allotments, as previously outlined in earlier guidance.
Failure to comply with the directive carried a clear warning, though the specifics were not detailed. The memo emphasized the urgency of the situation, demanding swift action from state agencies responsible for administering the vital food assistance program.
Justice Jackson’s stay is not permanent, with the order set to expire within 48 hours of the First Circuit’s further review. The fate of November’s SNAP benefits now hangs in the balance, awaiting the appellate court’s next move.
