A dramatic legal battle unfolded over the weekend, centered on the fate of food assistance for millions of Americans. The Trump Administration faced a critical setback Sunday evening when the First Circuit Court of Appeals rejected their plea to halt a judge’s order mandating full SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for November.
The initial order came from Rhode Island District Court Judge John McConnell, who directed the administration to fully fund SNAP despite a government shutdown triggered by a disagreement in Congress. The judge’s decision controversially proposed reallocating funds from child nutrition programs to cover the shortfall.
The Department of Agriculture responded swiftly, issuing a late-night memo to states instructing them to reverse course and cease processing full benefit payments. They were told to revert to a system reflecting a 35% reduction in maximum allotments, as previously outlined in early November guidance.
However, this directive was itself put on hold. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson granted a temporary stay, providing a 48-hour window for the First Circuit Court of Appeals to review the case. This pause offered a brief reprieve, but ultimately didn’t alter the appeals court’s decision.
The three-judge panel that delivered the ruling comprised two appointees of President Biden and one appointed by President Obama. Their denial of the administration’s request intensifies the pressure to resolve the underlying political impasse fueling the shutdown.
Simultaneously, a glimmer of hope emerged in the Senate. Lawmakers voted to advance legislation aimed at reopening the government, signaling a potential breakthrough after days of stalemate. The Senate adjourned late Sunday, with plans to reconvene Monday morning.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it by Wednesday. If approved, the bill would then be sent to the President’s desk, potentially averting a prolonged disruption to vital government services and resolving the SNAP funding crisis.
The situation remains fluid, with the fate of November’s SNAP benefits hanging in the balance. The 48-hour stay granted by Justice Jackson adds another layer of complexity, creating a tense waiting period as the political and legal dramas unfold.
