Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must keep the food program running during the government shutdown.
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If you find an error, emailTexans who were supposed to receive SNAP benefits at the start of November have not received them, as the federal government mulls how to respond to a pair of court rulings. Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must tap existing funds to keep the SNAP food assistance program running during the government shutdown,it wasn’t immediately clear if or when more than 3.5 million Texans, 1.7 million of them children, could receive assistance. On Monday, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which administers the benefits for the state, “Today, for the first time in the program’s proud and proven history, SNAP recipients face a lapse in benefits because of a government shutdown,” Celia Cole of Feeding Texas said in a statement Saturday. “This is a reality no American should accept, and it should trouble us all to our core.”to authorize emergency funding for Texas SNAP recipients. Abbott said U.S. Senate Democrats should pass legislation to end the government shutdown. Democrats have voted against the new budget 13 times over Republicans’ refusal to negotiate extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at year’s end. The judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island gave the Trump administration until today to decide whether to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes called food stamps, partially or in full. President Trump, however, is looking to the courts for guidance on how to fund SNAP, according to a “Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available,” the post said. “I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.” Regardless of whether the Trump administration releases funding, Texans will still have to wait to access their food benefits. “Ongoing lawsuits are not a swift solution to this crisis. If contingency funds are released, they represent only partial relief—and the administration has indicated it could take weeks to calculate and distribute them,” Cole said in a Friday statement. After USDA issues guidance to states, it takes at least three days for SNAP benefits to become available on Lone Star Cards that participants use to purchase food at grocery retailers. These funds become available on a staggered basis, where every day that the money is delayed affects aroundThe USDA had announced that it would halt the program, which serves more than 40 million Americans, in November due to insufficient funding during the shutdown. the agency is waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture food and nutrition service, which oversees SNAP, and Texans can find more information on its The ruling came in response to a challenge from state attorneys general or governors in 25 states plus the District of Columbia, who said the administration was legally obliged to keep SNAP running. It is unclear whether the decision will extend to Texas SNAP enrollees, because the state did not file a complaint. A prior USDA plan for a government shutdown says SNAP should keep running during a pause in appropriations. “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds,” said the plan, which was subsequently removed from the USDA website. That emergency fund totals $5.3 billion, but SNAP needs $8.2 billion for full funding in November. The Trump administration has doubled down that it cannot use this money for SNAP. In their suit, the Democratic states argued that the administration must tap this fund, and that it also has access to a separate pool with around $23 billion. Both judges ordered the Trump administration to fund SNAP at least partially, and left it to decide whether to use additional resources to pay for full November benefits. The Boston judge gave the Trump administration until Monday to say whether it will use contingency funds to partially fund SNAP for November or fully fund the program using both emergency and additional funds. Disclosure: Feeding Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete , Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin! We bring together Texas' most inspiring thinkers, leaders and innovators to discuss the issues that matter to you.Texans need the truth. Help us report it. Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Texans need the truth. Help us report it. Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. 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