Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing government shutdown,

directing officials to tap billions in contingency reserves to keep benefits flowing.

The nearly simultaneous rulings came just one day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze SNAP payments on Nov. 1, citing depleted funding. The program, which supports roughly one in eight Americans and costs about $8 billion monthly, is a cornerstone of the nation’s food assistance system. News earlier in October that SNAP payments were at risk prompted states, food banks and families to brace for severe disruptions; several states even prepared to use their own money to keep aid flowing.

Democratic attorneys general and governors from 25 states, along with the District of Columbia, sued to block the administration’s plan. They argued the federal government is legally required to maintain SNAP benefits and must use available contingency funds—about $5 billion in one reserve and an additional $23 billion in another—before halting the program.

A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled from the bench that the government must immediately use at least the contingency funds, requesting a progress report by Monday. A second ruling, from a Massachusetts-based judge, ordered the administration to clarify by Monday whether it will fully or partially cover November benefits using the available reserves.

It remains unclear how quickly beneficiaries’ debit cards can be reloaded; the process can take up to two weeks. Appeals are expected.

During a Thursday hearing in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani questioned the administration’s claim that SNAP could simply be shut down once funds ran out. She said Congress intended agencies to draw on emergency resources or reduce benefits equitably—*not* cut off assistance entirely. “If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” Talwani said. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.” She noted her ruling would apply nationwide.

Meanwhile, states and food banks have been scrambling to prepare for an interruption in aid. Many have pledged emergency funding or expedited support for local food providers. Advocates warn that cutting off SNAP would force low-income households to choose between groceries and other essential bills.

At a press conference in Washington, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins argued the contingency funds would not sustain SNAP for long and accused Democrats of “disgusting dereliction of duty” for refusing to end a Senate filibuster amid negotiations over health-care funding. Congressional efforts this week to extend SNAP funding during the shutdown failed.

As of 2025, a family of four must have a net income below roughly $31,000 to qualify for SNAP. Last year, the program assisted 41 million people, nearly two-thirds of them families with children. Photo by Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia commons.