BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston will consider a motion today that could mandate the Trump administration to continue funding the SNAP food aid program, despite the ongoing government shutdown. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture planning to freeze SNAP payments, families reliant on this assistance could face dire challenges ahead of Thanksgiving.
The judge's decision follows widespread concern among states and food banks trying to prepare for what could be a significant disruption to a program that supports roughly 41 million Americans.
Many states are asserting that the administration has an obligation to secure funding for SNAP, especially considering its hefty costs of around $8 billion a month. While the Trump administration contends that the funds required aren't available due to the shutdown, the states believe that existing contingency funds could be tapped to continue operations.
As the countdown to a possible halt continues, SNAP beneficiaries and advocates are waiting to see how quickly the situation can be resolved, especially since it typically takes weeks to reload the benefits on the debit cards used for purchasing groceries.
The judge's decision follows widespread concern among states and food banks trying to prepare for what could be a significant disruption to a program that supports roughly 41 million Americans.
Many states are asserting that the administration has an obligation to secure funding for SNAP, especially considering its hefty costs of around $8 billion a month. While the Trump administration contends that the funds required aren't available due to the shutdown, the states believe that existing contingency funds could be tapped to continue operations.
As the countdown to a possible halt continues, SNAP beneficiaries and advocates are waiting to see how quickly the situation can be resolved, especially since it typically takes weeks to reload the benefits on the debit cards used for purchasing groceries.
