BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston will review a motion today that demands the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amid the government shutdown.
The upcoming hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani comes as the USDA plans to freeze SNAP payments, claiming they cannot sustain the program due to the shutdown.
This program is crucial, serving approximately one in eight Americans, and is a significant part of the nation's social safety net. News about the program's funding being at risk starting November 1 has triggered concern among states, food banks, and SNAP beneficiaries. Some states are reportedly considering using their own funds to maintain some aspects of the program.
A coalition of attorneys general and governors from 25 Democratic states, along with the District of Columbia, are challenging the plan to pause funding, arguing the administration has a legal obligation to sustain SNAP. They highlight the existence of contingency funds to continue its operation.
The Trump administration has stated it is legally unable to tap into an existing $5 billion contingency fund for the program, despite earlier USDA statements indicating the funds would be used to ensure SNAP continues. The Democratic coalition counters that these funds can and should be utilized, citing an additional separate fund containing approximately $23 billion available for SNAP.
The situation is critical, as the program costs around $8 billion monthly. The timing of the court's decision is uncertain, as it may take one to two weeks for the reactivation of debit cards that beneficiaries use for grocery purchases.
In 2022, SNAP assisted about 41 million individuals, with nearly two-thirds of recipients being families with children, making the outcome of this hearing particularly impactful for many American families.
