Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 7: The Trump administration on Friday requested a federal appeals court to suspend a judge’s order requiring the distribution of full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, even as some states said they were moving swiftly to release the funds to recipients.
U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had directed the administration to provide the full monthly SNAP benefits by Friday. However, the administration argued that spending beyond the contingency fund would exceed available resources, filing to halt any court-mandated payments.
Despite the federal dispute, some states have already acted. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ office confirmed that several SNAP recipients had received their full November benefits overnight Thursday. “We’ve received confirmation that payments went through, including members reporting they can now see their balances,” said spokesperson Britt Cudaback.
The legal wrangling follows lawsuits from cities and nonprofits challenging the administration’s earlier decision to provide only 65% of maximum monthly benefits, which could have left some recipients without support. The judges ordered that SNAP use an emergency reserve fund of over $4.6 billion, with flexibility to access additional funds to cover full payments totaling $8.5–9 billion.
The Trump administration argued that the court order violated the U.S. Constitution, stating, “This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend.”
Meanwhile, states like Michigan prepared to issue full benefits promptly once federal funding is received. Recipients normally receiving payments on the third, fifth, or seventh of the month are expected to get their full allotment within 48 hours of funds arriving, while others will be paid on their scheduled dates.
The SNAP dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and courts over spending authority during the government shutdown, leaving millions of low-income Americans in uncertainty.