Federal Judge Blocks Suspension of Food Aid During Shutdown

A federal judge in Rhode Island has intervened to prevent the U.S. government from halting food assistance for millions of Americans during the ongoing government shutdown. On October 6, 2023, U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a temporary restraining order, mandating that the administration of President Donald Trump utilize contingency funds to continue providing benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps.

The ruling came after a coalition of cities, nonprofit organizations, and a union argued that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lacked the legal authority to suspend SNAP benefits, which were set to be cut off starting Saturday. Judge McConnell’s decision followed shortly after a similar ruling in Boston, which indicated that the suspension may indeed be unlawful.

“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” Judge McConnell stated during a virtual hearing.

The USDA has claimed that the suspension is necessary due to insufficient funding to cover the monthly costs of SNAP benefits, which amount to between $8.5 billion and $9 billion for approximately 42 million low-income Americans. The Trump administration asserts that the USDA cannot disburse these benefits until Congress resolves the ongoing budget impasse that initiated on October 1, 2023.

Represented by the liberal advocacy group Democracy Forward, the plaintiffs contended that the USDA still possesses sufficient funds to fulfill its obligations to pay SNAP benefits. They pointed to $5.25 billion in contingency funds that Congress has previously allocated for circumstances requiring the continuation of program operations.

In addition to the contingency funds, the plaintiffs highlighted a separate fund totaling around $23 billion, which could also be utilized to avert what would be a historic suspension of SNAP benefits. The ongoing legal battle underscores the critical nature of food assistance programs amidst the uncertainties of government funding and the significant impact on vulnerable populations across the country.

As the shutdown continues, the implications of these legal decisions will be closely monitored, particularly regarding their effects on low-income families who rely on SNAP for essential food supplies.