Boston, MA — In a landmark decision late Friday, two federal judges ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — the nation’s largest food aid initiative — using contingency funds during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The rulings, handed down nearly simultaneously in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, came just one day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was scheduled to halt SNAP payments, citing depleted operational funding. The program, which supports approximately one in eight Americans, costs about US$8 billion per month and is a critical component of the country’s social safety net.
The judges’ decisions mean the administration must immediately draw from at least US$5 billion in contingency funds to continue providing benefits. Both courts gave the USDA until Monday to confirm its plan to fund the November payments — either partially or fully — through available emergency funds.
Federal Judges Reject Plan to Suspend Benefits
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani appeared sharply critical of the administration’s argument that SNAP benefits could simply be suspended during a funding lapse.
“If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” Talwani told government lawyers. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.”
Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, indicated that her ruling would apply nationwide, not just to the 25 states and the District of Columbia that joined the legal challenge. The ruling underscores her interpretation that Congress intended for federal agencies to maintain essential programs — like food assistance — during shutdowns by using available contingency reserves.
A second ruling, issued from the bench in Rhode Island, also required the USDA to use contingency funds and ordered an update on compliance by Monday.
State Officials and Advocates Celebrate Ruling
The lawsuits were brought by Democratic state attorneys general and governors from 25 states, arguing that the administration had both the legal authority and obligation to continue funding SNAP. They contended that not only could the contingency fund be used, but that an additional US$23 billion in a separate federal account could also be tapped to prevent an interruption in benefits.
The plaintiffs said suspending the program would cause “irreparable harm” to tens of millions of Americans, particularly low-income families, children, and seniors who rely on SNAP to meet basic food needs.
“This decision is a lifeline for millions of Americans,” said one state attorney general involved in the suit. “The federal government cannot use the shutdown as an excuse to starve families.”
Advocacy groups and food banks also welcomed the ruling, warning that any pause in benefits would have led to widespread hunger and economic disruption.
Administration Response and Political Fallout
At a news conference in Washington, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the rulings but insisted that the contingency funds in question would “not sustain the program for long.” She blamed Senate Democrats for blocking Republican efforts to pass a temporary funding bill, calling it a “disgusting dereliction of duty.”
Speaking alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rollins said the administration would comply with the court order while continuing to appeal the rulings.
The Trump administration had argued that federal law did not permit the USDA to use contingency funds for SNAP operations during a shutdown — reversing an earlier USDA position that the money could be used to keep benefits flowing.
Next Steps and Implications
While the rulings offer immediate relief, it remains unclear how quickly SNAP debit cards can be reloaded, as the administrative process typically takes one to two weeks. The decisions are expected to face swift appeals, though both courts indicated urgency given the program’s impact on food security.
SNAP currently serves over 41 million Americans, nearly two-thirds of whom are families with children. Eligibility in 2025 is limited to households with a net annual income below US$31,000 for a family of four.