BOSTON (AP) — The outcomes of court rulings expected as early as Friday could determine whether President Donald Trump’s administration is required to restore SNAP food aid benefits for November amid the ongoing government shutdown that has left millions at risk of losing critical assistance. Approximately 1 in 8 Americans rely on this assistance to purchase groceries, and any suspension of benefits could create significant hardships for low-income families.
Even if the judgments affirm SNAP’s continuity, beneficiaries may still face delays in accessing their debit cards and funds, which could take one to two weeks to reload. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani expressed skepticism regarding the government's justification for potentially halting benefits, emphasizing that a process should be followed to equitably manage funding shortages rather than suspending all benefits outright.
Talwani indicated that the administration may need to allocate emergency funds to ensure that SNAP recipients can continue to receive aid. “If the government can’t afford to cover the cost, there’s a process to follow,” she stated in court.
This situation is made more complicated by claims from government lawyers, who argue that a contingency fund, which holds about $5 billion, may not be utilized to maintain SNAP, a program that costs roughly $8 billion monthly. States contend otherwise, asserting that additional funding is available in federal accounts that should be deployed for this purpose.
While her ruling may apply nationwide, this could possibly conflict with recent U.S. Supreme Court limitations on nationwide injunctions.
In anticipation of court decisions, many states, food banks, and SNAP recipients are preparing for changes in how food assistance is distributed. The majority have sought to expedite funding for food banks or implement alternative methods to load benefits onto the designated SNAP debit cards.
Advocates assert that halting food aid would force families into difficult financial choices, such as prioritizing groceries over other essential bills. A recent push to sustain SNAP funding during the government shutdown, however, was unsuccessful in Congress.
For a family of four in 2025, qualifying for SNAP requires a net income after specific expenses not to exceed about $31,000 annually, supporting roughly 41 million individuals in the last year, two-thirds of whom were families with children. Both the judge rulings and the ongoing discussions in Congress continue to shape the future of SNAP and the many lives it touches.
Even if the judgments affirm SNAP’s continuity, beneficiaries may still face delays in accessing their debit cards and funds, which could take one to two weeks to reload. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani expressed skepticism regarding the government's justification for potentially halting benefits, emphasizing that a process should be followed to equitably manage funding shortages rather than suspending all benefits outright.
Talwani indicated that the administration may need to allocate emergency funds to ensure that SNAP recipients can continue to receive aid. “If the government can’t afford to cover the cost, there’s a process to follow,” she stated in court.
This situation is made more complicated by claims from government lawyers, who argue that a contingency fund, which holds about $5 billion, may not be utilized to maintain SNAP, a program that costs roughly $8 billion monthly. States contend otherwise, asserting that additional funding is available in federal accounts that should be deployed for this purpose.
While her ruling may apply nationwide, this could possibly conflict with recent U.S. Supreme Court limitations on nationwide injunctions.
In anticipation of court decisions, many states, food banks, and SNAP recipients are preparing for changes in how food assistance is distributed. The majority have sought to expedite funding for food banks or implement alternative methods to load benefits onto the designated SNAP debit cards.
Advocates assert that halting food aid would force families into difficult financial choices, such as prioritizing groceries over other essential bills. A recent push to sustain SNAP funding during the government shutdown, however, was unsuccessful in Congress.
For a family of four in 2025, qualifying for SNAP requires a net income after specific expenses not to exceed about $31,000 annually, supporting roughly 41 million individuals in the last year, two-thirds of whom were families with children. Both the judge rulings and the ongoing discussions in Congress continue to shape the future of SNAP and the many lives it touches.
