Full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the current month have begun to be distributed to eligible Americans. The federal government has communicated its intention to provide states with funding for these benefits, concurrent with its appeal of a recent court order. U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. had mandated the restoration of the nation's largest anti-hunger program by Friday.
Following the court's decision on Thursday afternoon, several states initiated announcements regarding the issuance of full SNAP benefits. States confirming this action included California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Recipients reported receiving funds on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
On Friday, officials from the administration submitted a request to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the orders pertaining to the release of SNAP payments. This action followed a decision by an appeals court earlier the same day, which had denied the government's request to suspend the mandated issuance of these payments.
The primary federal anti-hunger program experienced a lapse in funding approximately one week prior, coinciding with the second month of a federal government shutdown. State and local entities, alongside food banks, had increased efforts to provide food assistance during this period. Approximately 42 million individuals depend on SNAP, primarily consisting of low-income families with children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
Judge McConnell's order addressed the government's previous decision to provide only partial SNAP payments. The order stated that officials had not adequately considered the potential impact on millions of beneficiaries. Furthermore, the order suggested that the delay in partial payments might have been influenced by political factors.
The administration had cited insufficient emergency funds to cover full payments due to the ongoing federal shutdown. In its appeal of the court order, officials contend that increased SNAP funding is a legislative responsibility of Congress. They further argue that reallocating funds from other sources, as suggested by the judge, could negatively affect other child nutrition programs.
In a court filing, the government stated, "There is no lawful basis for an order that directs USDA to somehow find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions."
Earlier in the week, the Department of Agriculture had accessed approximately $4 billion from a contingency fund for SNAP, which represented about half of the program's monthly budgetary requirement. The department had instructed states to recalculate partial payments, a process that some states indicated would require several weeks to implement.
The administration had requested the court to prevent the full distribution of payments pending the outcome of its appeal. The appeals court rejected this request. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department has filed for an emergency stay with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Concurrently on Friday, an increasing number of states informed residents of the imminent receipt of their full SNAP benefits.
An anti-hunger advocacy group issued a statement regarding the conclusion of a delay in this month's benefits. Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center, stated that the administration possessed the capacity to maintain uninterrupted SNAP benefits but initiated action only after a court order was issued.