Washington, D.C. – The United States Supreme Court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold approximately $4 billion in federal food aid for November, leaving 42 million low-income Americans uncertain about their SNAP benefits amid the nation’s longest government shutdown in history.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an administrative stay on Friday, pausing a lower court order while giving the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston time to review the administration’s request to partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
Impact on Millions of Americans
SNAP provides essential support for Americans earning below 130% of the federal poverty line, with maximum monthly benefits for 2026 set at $298 for individuals and $546 for two-person households.
The Supreme Court’s stay suspends a ruling by District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, who had ordered the government to release full SNAP funding immediately. The USDA had been directed to use money from a separate $23 billion child nutrition fund, financed through tariffs, to cover the shortfall.
This delay comes at a time when SNAP recipients have already faced disruptions for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, forcing many to turn to food pantries or reduce spending on essentials such as medication.
Legal and Administrative Context
Earlier this week, Judge McConnell accused the Trump administration of withholding funds for “political reasons”, prompting the temporary court intervention. The administration argued that releasing full SNAP payments could “sow further shutdown chaos” and called the ruling “judicial activism at its worst”, a sentiment echoed by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The USDA had already notified state governments of plans to distribute full benefits, creating confusion among officials and recipients as legal proceedings continue.
The Supreme Court stay will remain in effect until two days after the 1st Circuit Court issues a decision on whether to block McConnell’s order permanently. SNAP costs typically range between $8.5 billion and $9 billion per month, highlighting the scale of potential disruption.
Next Steps
The 1st Circuit is expected to hold its next hearing soon, while millions of families across the United States remain in limbo, uncertain whether full benefits will resume or if partial payments will continue through the shutdown.
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