US President Donald Trump instructed his administration’s lawyers to seek court clarification on legally funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) after federal judges ordered the use of emergency funds in November to cover food stamp benefits.
The rulings by federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island rejected a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) claim that it could not use a contingency fund to help cover the benefits, which were due to start distribution tomorrow amid the monthlong govt shutdown.
“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," the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, 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 added.
He demanded the Democrats to quit this, and immediately reopen the government and warned, "If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW! Here is Cryin’ Chuck Schumer’s Office Number: (202) 224-6542."
Two federal judges on Friday ordered the federal govt to use contingency funds to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing shutdown, following legal challenges from Democratic state attorneys general and governors in 25 states and the District of Columbia, AP reported.
In Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell ruled from the bench in a case brought by cities and non-profit organisations that the programme must be funded using at least the contingency funds and asked for a progress update by Monday. He also ordered that all existing waivers of SNAP work requirements, which the USDA had terminated for older adults, veterans and others, continue to be honoured.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a written opinion calling the USDA’s suspension of benefits “unlawful” and directed the federal govt to inform the court by Monday whether it would use the emergency reserve funds to provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the programme using both contingency funds and additional resources. “Defendants’ suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that the Contingency Funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments,” she wrote. “This court has now clarified that Defendants are required to use those Contingency Funds as necessary for the SNAP programme.”
The administration said it wasn’t allowed to use a contingency fund of about $5 billion for the program, which reversed a USDA plan from before the shutdown that said money would be tapped to keep SNAP running. The Democratic officials argued that not only could that money be used, but that it must be. They also said a separate fund with around $23 billion is available for the cause.
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