Trump administration lawyers are inquiring how the Department of Agriculture can legally tap into contingency funds to keep food stamps rolling during the government shutdown.
Federal judge Jack McConnell in Rhode Island ruled Friday that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to keep Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs subsidized as the government shutdown nears its 32nd day.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social Friday evening in response to the opinion, saying federal lawyers “do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available,” and that he directed them to get further information.
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” Trump wrote.
SNAP benefits were set to expire at the end of the day Friday, leaving the approximate 41.7 million Americans, who use SNAP benefits without access to the means through which they buy food on Nov. 1. McConnell’s ruling pointed to a SNAP contingency fund of about $5 billion for the administration to use, though it would not be enough to last the entire month of November.
Trump said that even if the courts provide “immediate guidance” on how to use the contingency funds, “it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out.”
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” Trump wrote.
JUDGE RULES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MUST RELEASE EMERGENCY SNAP FUNDS
McConnell issued his ruling shortly after federal Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts issued a similar ruling that deemed the decision to halt SNAP payments “unlawful.”
The rulings came just days after dozens of states sued the Trump administration over the Department of Agriculture’s decision not to issue November SNAP payments during the government shutdown.
