On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its commitment to comply with a federal judge's ruling, ensuring that approximately 42 million Americans will receive full food benefits through November. This directive was communicated by Patrick Penn, the deputy undersecretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, who provided new guidance to state agencies regarding the implementation of this order.
In the recent guidance, Penn confirmed that the USDA is taking necessary steps to ensure that full benefit issuances for the month of November 2025 are executed in accordance with the order from U.S. District Judge John McConnell, issued on Thursday. Later today, officials from the Trump administration are expected to finalize the processes required to allocate funds that will fully cover the November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This announcement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings, as the Justice Department has filed an appeal against Judge McConnell's order, which mandates the administration to provide comprehensive assistance to those relying on SNAP for grocery purchases. Additionally, the Justice Department has requested the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit to block the judge’s order and is seeking an emergency relief decision by 4 p.m.
Judge McConnell is presiding over a lawsuit initiated by a coalition of cities and nonprofit organizations after the USDA indicated its intention to suspend food assistance for November due to the ongoing government shutdown. In response, the judge ordered the Trump administration to utilize a contingency fund to ensure that SNAP recipients receive their food aid for November.
On Monday, the administration communicated to the court its willingness to comply with the order; however, it asserted that there were insufficient reserve funds available to provide full SNAP benefits. Following this, the USDA disseminated information to states for calculating reduced payments to eligible individuals. They cautioned, however, that it might take several weeks before the assistance reaches the intended recipients.
In a recent ruling, Judge McConnell expressed concern that the government may be undermining the effectiveness of his earlier order to distribute aid swiftly to SNAP beneficiaries. He referenced a social media post by President Trump, which suggested that benefits would only be disbursed after the Radical Left Democrats agree to reopen the government, raising questions about the administration's commitment to following the court's directive.
Despite the initial confusion surrounding the president's comments, the White House later clarified that it would adhere to Judge McConnell's order. Nevertheless, the judge mandated that to provide full SNAP payments, the Trump administration must draw from two funding sources: the contingency fund and another allocation designated for Child Nutrition programs.
As the situation develops, it remains crucial for the Trump administration to provide comprehensive food assistance to SNAP recipients, ensuring that millions of Americans can access the resources they need during these challenging times.
