Judge skeptical of Trump position in fight over SNAP fund

A Boston federal judge indicated Thursday that she will require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tap into a contingency fund to partially cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said in court that the government must determine “an equitable way of reducing benefits” amid the ongoing government shutdown. She will issue a ruling later Thursday.

“If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” said Talwani, an appointee of former President Obama. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.”

The lawsuit was filed by Democratic officials in 25 states and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. It alleged that the USDA’s impending suspension of SNAP benefits, set to kick in on Saturday, is illegal.

Ahead of Nov. 1, states around the country are sounding the alarm over the impending funding halt. The USDA allocates SNAP funding monthly, while states operate their own programs.

The USDA said last week it will not use more than $5 billion in contingency funding to pay for November benefits, estimated at $9.2 billion. In a Friday memo, the USDA said the fund could be accessed only in the wake of unforeseen events, such as natural disasters.

In a since-deleted shutdown plan the USDA published Sept. 30, though, the department said it is mandated by Congress to tap into the reserve amid the funding lapse.

The lawsuit in Massachusetts, citing that plan and USDA’s congressional mandate to fund SNAP, asked the court to compel the department to utilize the contingency funding.

It says that USDA’s decision threatens to “fundamentally undermine” trust between SNAP recipients and the states, and pass on burdensome costs to states, local governments and food banks. The suit also cites possible food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.

It also noted that the USDA could tap into another $23 billion fund, which it did earlier this month to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program Women, Infants and Children program during the shutdown.

Roughly 41.7 million Americans received SNAP benefits in fiscal 2024, according to the USDA. The federal government spent $99.8 billion on the program, amounting to $187.20 per recipient per month, during that time frame.

The Associated Press contributed.