On Tuesday, the Supreme Court made a significant decision by extending Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's administrative stay regarding a lower court order. This order mandated that the Trump administration expedite the payment of full SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for November. The court's ruling, issued despite Justice Jackson's noted dissent, aims to maintain the current situation as Congress appears poised to resolve the ongoing government shutdown and ensure full funding for SNAP through the fiscal year.
The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its decision. However, Justice Jackson expressed her view that she would have denied the Trump administration's request and insisted on the immediate disbursement of full November SNAP benefits while legislative actions were underway in Congress. The administrative stay, which Justice Jackson initially granted on Friday, was in response to a request from the government to pause the order until the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could review the case. Subsequently, the appeals court rejected the administration's appeal on Sunday.
In light of the potential for irreparable harm stemming from the government's orders, which could necessitate the transfer of approximately $4 billion by the evening, Solicitor General John Sauer formally requested an immediate administrative stay. Sauer emphasized the urgency of the situation in his arguments for the stay. This comes after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani on Monday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a memo that directed states to retract the issuance of full SNAP benefits.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the SNAP program, had previously informed states on Friday that it was working towards implementing full benefit issuances for November 2025, following Judge McConnell's order to fully fund SNAP for that month. The Trump administration, however, proposed to partially fund SNAP with around $4.5 billion, stating that the remaining funds were necessary to support WIC programs that provide nutrition to children.
Based on the USDA's initial guidance, 20 states reported that they had begun the process of issuing full SNAP benefits for November. During a hearing on Monday, Judge Talwani remarked on the confusion stemming from the USDA's own directives, highlighting the complications created by the administration's handling of the situation. This ongoing legal battle over SNAP funding underscores the complexities involved in administering federal assistance programs amid a government shutdown.
