The Trump administration recently sought an emergency pause from a federal appeals court regarding a judge’s order to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for this month. U.S. District Judge John McConnell had ordered the administration to release payments to states by Friday, criticizing delays that may have left some SNAP recipients without enough food.
The administration argued that due to a government shutdown, it could only provide partial benefits for November. Earlier, they agreed to use $4.65 billion in contingency funds, which would cover about 65% of what eligible households usually receive. They expressed concern that tapping into other funds meant for child nutrition programs—like school lunches—would harm those initiatives.
In a statement, the administration called the situation a “crisis” created by Congress, suggesting that only legislative action could resolve it. They asked the court to allow the USDA to continue offering partial benefits without reallocating funds from other critical programs.
This disagreement over SNAP funding isn’t new. The Department of Agriculture initially stated that SNAP benefits wouldn’t be distributed during the shutdown. This led to a lawsuit from the advocacy group Democracy Forward, resulting in Judge McConnell’s order for faster payments. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins mentioned that partial payments were sent to states on Monday. However, Judge McConnell felt the administration hadn’t acted quickly enough.
He emphasized, “People have gone without for too long. Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.” McConnell stated that this failure should not occur in America.
It’s worth noting that this is the first time in SNAP’s 61-year history that benefits have been disrupted due to a government shutdown. Many families faced desperate situations, with reports of skipped meals and relying on whatever food they had left at home.
Experts stress the serious effects of food insecurity. According to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 35 million Americans faced hunger in the previous year. The implications of delays or reductions in SNAP benefits can lead to increased health issues and long-term economic challenges for affected families.
In summary, the ongoing battle over SNAP highlights larger issues within government funding and the impact on vulnerable populations. A quick resolution is vital to ensure those who rely on these benefits do not suffer any longer.
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