The Supreme Court intervened Tuesday, extending a temporary halt to a lower court order demanding the immediate release of full November SNAP benefits. This move represents a short-term victory for the administration, coming just hours after an emergency appeal was filed with the nation’s highest court.
Officials had urgently requested the Supreme Court maintain a previous emergency stay issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson the prior week. The extension remains in effect until late Thursday, November 13, effectively delaying the full disbursement of food assistance to millions.
At the heart of the dispute lies the question of whether full SNAP payments should resume following a lapse at the beginning of the month, triggered by a government shutdown. The administration argued that Congress, not the courts, should resolve the funding issue.
States, however, launched legal challenges, asserting that suspending aid would inflict disproportionate harm on tens of millions of vulnerable, low-income Americans. They emphasized this was the first delay in SNAP benefits since the program’s inception.
Lower courts initially sided with the states, ordering full payments, prompting the administration to seek emergency intervention from the Supreme Court. The administration’s legal team contended that the lower courts had exceeded their authority.
States countered, accusing the administration of using SNAP benefits as a political tool, jeopardizing food aid for roughly one in eight Americans. They argued any further delay would exacerbate the harm and create lasting chaos within the SNAP program.
The Department of Agriculture issued a directive Saturday instructing states to halt the issuance of full benefits and revert to partial payments of 65%. States failing to comply faced the threat of significant financial penalties.
This directive prompted a swift response from a U.S. District Judge, who paused the USDA guidance, citing widespread confusion. The situation was described by one state’s Attorney General as “the most heinous thing” witnessed during their time in office.
In New Jersey alone, the number of children relying on SNAP benefits exceeds the population of the state’s largest city, illustrating the program’s vital role in supporting families. The legal battle continues, with the fate of November SNAP benefits hanging in the balance.
The situation remains fluid, and further developments are anticipated as the Supreme Court deliberates and Congress works towards a resolution to the ongoing government shutdown.
