The BareStory
A government shutdown has halted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for an estimated 42 million Americans. Following the cutoff, which began around November 1, federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled on Friday that the administration must use emergency funds to continue the payments. The court orders blocked a planned suspension of the benefits. One ruling directed the administration to inform the court by Monday of its plans for authorizing benefits, while another ordered payments to resume as soon as possible.
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the administration would not appeal the court rulings. The secretary said that SNAP benefits could potentially restart as early as Wednesday, but cautioned that a process must first be determined. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he had instructed lawyers to seek clarification from the courts on how to fund the program legally, adding that he did not want Americans to go hungry. The president blamed "Radical Democrats" for the government shutdown.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey stated Sunday that her state was part of a lawsuit by 28 states against the administration. She urged the president to comply with the court orders and attributed responsibility for the shutdown to the president and Republicans. The governor also disputed a claim from the president that SNAP recipients are "largely Democrats," stating that beneficiaries are mainly seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans. She called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the House for negotiations.
According to Governor Healey, the impact of the disruption is immediate, as it can take two to five days to load benefit cards once funding is approved. She said that Massachusetts has advanced funds to food pantries as an interim measure, but described such efforts as unsustainable.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• SNAP recipients may experience a delay in receiving food assistance, as it can take two to five days to load benefit cards once funding is approved.
• Local food pantries could see increased demand from residents. State efforts to provide stopgap funding for these services are described as unsustainable.
• While courts ordered payments to resume, the government shutdown causing the disruption continues. The timing for a full resolution to the funding impasse remains uncertain.
