Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Order to Fund Anti-Hunger Program
The Supreme Court has issued a temporary block on an order that would have required the government to fund the country’s largest anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The decision, made by Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, puts a hold on the district court order that would have forced the Trump administration to pay out $4 billion to keep the program afloat through November amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Background on the Case
The courtroom drama began when a U.S. district judge ordered the federal government to pay the $4 billion by 5 p.m. Friday. The administration responded with an appeal, filing in the 1st Circuit and again at the Supreme Court. Assistant Atty. Gen. Brett A. Shumate argued that the administration’s only option would be to “starve Peter to feed Paul” by cutting school lunch programs to meet the court’s order.
The administration claimed that it would have to “raid school-lunch money” to keep families fed, as there is no lawful basis for an order that directs the USDA to find $4 billion in funding. The 1st Circuit appellate court declined to immediately block the lower court’s order and said it would quickly rule on the merits of the funding decree.
Impact on SNAP Benefits
SNAP benefits are a key fight in the ongoing government shutdown, with millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries since benefits lapsed on November 1. California is one of several states suing the administration to restore the safety net program while negotiations continue to end the stalemate. The Trump administration was previously ordered to release contingency funding for the program, which it said would cover benefits for about half of November.
However, the process has been “confusing and chaotic” and “rife with errors,” according to a brief filed by 25 states and the District of Columbia. Some states, including California, have started disbursing SNAP benefits for the month, while others say the partial funding is a functional lockout.
Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court’s temporary block on the order is set to expire 48 hours after the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rules on whether to compel the payment or allow food assistance to lapse for millions of Americans who rely on it. The 1st Circuit is currently the country’s most liberal, with five active judges, all of whom were named to the bench by Democratic presidents.
While the 1st Circuit deliberates, both sides are left sparring over how many children will go hungry if the other prevails. More than 16 million children rely on SNAP benefits, and close to 30 million are fed through the National School Lunch Program, which the government now says it must gut to meet the court’s order.
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