Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restart SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown

Federal courts have ordered the Trump administration to utilize contingency funds to restart Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans affected by the government shutdown. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the administration will not appeal these rulings and indicated that food stamp payments could resume as soon as Wednesday, pending the completion of necessary legal and procedural steps. President Trump has expressed a willingness to provide SNAP funding if given clear legal direction from the courts, emphasizing his desire to prevent Americans from going hungry due to the political stalemate. The government shutdown has left over 40 million Americans without SNAP benefits, leading to increased demand at food banks nationwide. While the administration had initially resisted using emergency funds, recent court orders have compelled it to act, with a Monday deadline set for presenting a plan to resume full payments. The situation underscores the ongoing tensions in Congress, with the administration blaming Senate Democrats for the funding impasse.