Courts Order SNAP Payments; Administration Seeks Funding

The government shutdown threatened November SNAP payments for roughly 42 million Americans, prompting busy food banks and urgent pleas from recipients. Two federal judges — including Judge John J. McConnell Jr. — ordered USDA to use congressionally approved contingency funds to make full payments by Nov. 3 or partial payments by Nov. 5, saying there is “no question” the reserves must be used. The Trump administration initially argued it lacked legal authority to tap the contingency fund, but President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled they would pursue emergency funding and legal guidance after the court rulings. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other officials are pushing new work and eligibility rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill — including a stringent hourly work/education requirement and tighter rules for noncitizens — which they say will reduce spending. Advocates warn any interruption in federal food aid would disproportionately harm Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities, even as prosecutors cite multimillion-dollar SNAP fraud prosecutions as evidence of abuse.