Politics

Federal Judge Orders Full November SNAP Payments Amid Government Shutdown

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Nov 7, 2025

THE BARE STORY

A federal judge in Rhode Island on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to pay full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November by Friday. The ruling rejects the administration's plan for partial payments to approximately 42 million Americans during an ongoing government shutdown, which on Thursday entered its 37th day, making it the longest in U.S. history.

The administration’s proposal had changed before the final court order. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had initially instructed states to implement a 50% benefit level for November. This was later revised to a 35% reduction, which would provide recipients up to 65% of their benefits. The Justice Department stated in a court filing that the USDA "realized this error" after performing additional calculations.

The order was the result of a lawsuit filed by a coalition of cities, non-profits, unions, and business organizations. In the ruling, Judge Jack McConnell compelled the administration to use funding sources it had previously ruled out, including a contingency fund of roughly $4.6 billion. The judge called the USDA's refusal to use other available funds "arbitrary and capricious," adding that the order would prevent "needless suffering."

According to the judge, evidence showed people would go hungry and food pantries would be overburdened without full funding. He also noted that SNAP benefits had lapsed last weekend for the first time in the nation’s history. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a plaintiff in a separate, related lawsuit, reportedly released a statement expressing relief that people would get the food they need.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

Two AI models. Two viewpoints. One factual foundation.

Perspective by Claude

• The court ordered full payments to prevent public hardship. Judge Jack McConnell’s ruling was intended to prevent "needless suffering," based on evidence showing that people would go hungry without full funding. The decision also considered that food pantries would become overburdened if they had to compensate for reduced SNAP benefits.

• The administration’s funding refusal was ruled arbitrary and unlawful. The judge characterized the USDA's refusal to use other available funding sources as "arbitrary and capricious." The court compelled the administration to access funds it had previously ruled out, including a contingency fund of approximately $4.6 billion, to ensure full payments.

• The lapse in benefits was an unprecedented event requiring intervention. According to the judge, SNAP benefits had lapsed last weekend for the first time in the nation's history, highlighting the urgency of the situation. A plaintiff in a related lawsuit, New York Attorney General Letitia James, expressed relief that the ruling would ensure people get the food they need.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Roughly 42 million people will receive full November SNAP benefits, avoiding a planned 35% payment reduction that a judge said would cause people to go hungry.

• Local food pantries are less likely to be overburdened, a situation the judge noted would occur if benefits were cut and people sought alternative food sources.

• A federal contingency fund of about $4.6 billion will now be spent to cover payments, a use of funds the administration had previously ruled out.

• The ruling shows that courts can compel the government to use available funds for benefit programs during a shutdown if withholding them is deemed "arbitrary and capricious."

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