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- Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island said the USDA needs to continue paying SNAP benefits next month.
- Food benefits were set to end November 1 amid the government shutdown.
- 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to purchase groceries.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled Friday afternoon that President Donald Trump must fund food stamps during the government shutdown.
The cases, filed on behalf of the state of Massachusetts and charity organizations this week, called for the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown.
The rulings reverse the USDA’s plans to pause benefits starting November 1 after their typical funding sources ran out. Patrick A. Penn, deputy undersecretary for US Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, said in a letter to state leaders on October 24 that the Agriculture Department is “suspending all November 2025 benefit allotments until such time as sufficient federal funding is provided, or until FNS directs State agencies otherwise.”
In documents seen by Business Insider, the US Department of Agriculture said it has money held in contingency funds to be used in case of emergency, but said those funds cannot be used for SNAP. Because of previous budget allocations, using federal funds to pay for November benefits would pull money away from other important programs, like school lunches or disaster relief, the Department said.
The judges’ rulings mean that the Trump administration must continue funding SNAP while the case plays out in court.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is America’s largest food safety net, helping around 42 million low-income households afford groceries each month.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
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