Living News

US Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Full SNAP Benefits Payment Amid Government Shutdown

The US Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's emergency appeal on Friday evening, temporarily halting a lower court order that required the federal government to fully pay November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by Friday. This decision came after Judge Mary McElroy of the US District Court for Rhode Island ruled on Thursday that the federal government must make full payments for SNAP benefits no later than Friday.

The Trump administration immediately requested a stay from the First Circuit Court of Appeals to continue its plan of partial payments for November food assistance. On Friday, the administration further petitioned the Supreme Court for emergency review. Later that evening, the First Circuit denied the request, upholding Judge McElroy's order.

At around 9 PM on Friday, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a two-day administrative stay, halting the full distribution of food benefits to allow the First Circuit more time to consider the government's proposal for partial payments. US media reported that following Judge McElroy's order, officials from several states confirmed on Friday that some recipients had already received their full November SNAP benefits.

Due to depleted funds, SNAP benefit disbursements were suspended starting November 1st. The USDA, which oversees the program, announced on Wednesday that it would use emergency funding to maintain 65% of SNAP payments for November. This marks the first time in the program's 60-year history that benefits have been halted, even during previous government shutdowns.

SNAP, a critical component of the US social safety net, serves approximately 42 million individuals, roughly one-eighth of the American population, with most beneficiaries living below the poverty line. The program spends over $8 billion monthly (approximately $10.4 billion Singapore dollars).