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A federal judge in Rhode Island on Friday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, one day before payments were set to lapse amid the ongoing government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled from the bench that the USDA must use its $6 billion contingency fund to continue issuing benefits “as soon as possible.” If that money proves insufficient, he said, the agency must tap other available sources to ensure Americans receive food assistance.
“There is no doubt that the six billion dollars in contingency funds are appropriated funds that are without a doubt necessary to carry out the program’s operation,” McConnell said. “There could be no greater necessity than the prohibition across the board of funds for the program’s operations.”
The decision came hours after another federal judge in Massachusetts found the Trump administration’s plan to halt benefits on Nov. 1 “unlawful,” but stopped short of ordering immediate disbursement while requesting more briefings from the USDA.
Courts push back on suspension of food aid
McConnell’s order follows lawsuits filed by cities, nonprofits, and community organizations in Rhode Island, and a separate challenge by Democratic-led states in Massachusetts. Both suits accuse the Trump administration of illegally withholding SNAP payments during the shutdown, now in its fifth week, even though contingency funds remain available.
McConnell rejected the USDA’s argument that those funds should be conserved for potential emergencies like hurricanes. “When compared to the millions of people that will go without funds for food versus the agency’s desire not to use contingency funds in case there’s a hurricane need, the balance of equities clearly goes on the side of ensuring that people are fed,” he said.
The judge ordered the government to update the court by Monday at noon on its progress in issuing benefits.
Parallel ruling in Massachusetts
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that Democratic plaintiffs — including 22 state attorneys general and the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania — were likely to succeed in their claim that USDA’s suspension of SNAP benefits was unlawful.
Talwani said the government “can’t simply suspend benefits because it can’t afford to cover the program,” and gave the administration until Nov. 3 to determine whether it will authorize full or partial benefits for November.
The coalition of states is asking the court to compel USDA to use contingency funds appropriated by Congress to continue payments for millions of low-income households.
Shutdown’s ripple effects
The dispute over SNAP funding comes amid the 30th day of a partial government shutdown, which began Oct. 1 after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a long-term funding bill. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy $7 billion to $14 billion, shaving up to 2% off GDP in the fourth quarter.
The USDA had posted a message earlier this week saying benefits would not be issued on Nov. 1, potentially affecting up to 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP for groceries.
Plaintiffs hail court victory
Democracy Forward, a progressive legal group representing the Rhode Island plaintiffs, praised McConnell’s ruling as a victory for food security and the rule of law.
“Today’s decision affirms what both the law and basic decency require: the Trump-Vance administration must use its power to support people in America, not to harm them,” said Skye Perryman, the group’s president and CEO.
Perryman said the ruling “protects millions of families, seniors, and veterans from being used as leverage in a political fight” and ensures that “no one in America should go hungry.”
Her organization represented a coalition of municipalities, faith-based groups, unions, and nonprofits that sued USDA over the halted payments.
What’s next
Both courts ordered the administration to provide updates early next week on whether SNAP funding will resume. If USDA fails to comply, additional injunctive orders could be issued to enforce the payments.
The White House, USDA, and the Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
