In a major ruling on Friday, two federal judges ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use emergency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) running during the ongoing government shutdown. The decision prevents an abrupt halt in food aid for millions of Americans who rely on the program.
The rulings came from courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, both finding that the USDA’s plan to suspend SNAP payments beginning November 1 was unlawful. Judges concluded that the agency has both the authority and obligation to use contingency and reserve funds already appropriated by Congress to maintain benefits until regular funding is restored.
In Massachusetts, Judge Indira Talwani stated the USDA’s interpretation of its authority was “erroneous” and that contingency reserves were designed precisely for emergencies like this. Meanwhile, Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order, compelling the USDA to release emergency funds immediately.
“Families should not go hungry because of bureaucratic paralysis,” McConnell wrote. “The USDA has the means and the mandate to act.”
The decision means that up to $5.25 billion in contingency reserves—and possibly $23 billion in other available funds—must now be used to continue SNAP payments through November. While these resources might not fully cover the month’s needs, judges emphasized that partial funding is better than none, and withholding aid while money remains available would be “arbitrary and harmful.”
The USDA had argued it lacked legal authority to spend the contingency funds without new appropriations, claiming they were intended for natural disasters rather than shutdowns. But the courts dismissed this reasoning, saying Congress imposed no such restriction on their use.
“The suspension of benefits was not a fiscal necessity—it was a policy choice,” Judge Talwani noted.
The ruling came after advocacy groups, including the Center for Food Equity and Feeding America, filed emergency lawsuits warning that millions could face food insecurity within days if benefits were cut off. SNAP serves over 40 million low-income Americans, including children, veterans, and seniors.
The USDA has been ordered to report its compliance plan by Monday, detailing how it will allocate the emergency funds and whether states can continue processing benefits through their EBT systems. Officials warned that technical delays could mean a one-week lag before benefits are fully restored.
State agencies and food banks have praised the decision, calling it a “lifeline” for struggling families amid political gridlock. Critics of the administration accused it of leveraging the shutdown to pressure Congress over spending priorities.
As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, the court’s intervention underscores the vital role of the judiciary in protecting essential social programs. While the long-term funding of SNAP remains uncertain, Friday’s ruling ensures that, for now, millions of Americans will not go hungry.
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