Trump Administration Challenges Court Order on SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown

By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 07 November 2025 08:43 AM EST

The Trump administration swiftly appealed a federal court order mandating full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to recipients this month. The appeal followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, which compelled the administration to secure funds for November’s SNAP benefits despite the ongoing government shutdown.

Judge McConnell criticized the administration’s initial plan to cover only 65% of November’s benefits, stating it failed to account for the “practical consequences” of reduced payments on low-income families. The decision came after an earlier court order required the use of USDA emergency reserves to maintain SNAP operations during the shutdown.

Administration officials argued the ruling overstepped judicial authority by dictating executive spending priorities during a funding lapse. Vice President JD Vance condemned the judge’s latest ruling, calling it “an absurd decision” and accusing the judiciary of interfering in fiscal matters during a “Democrat government shutdown.”

Vance emphasized that the administration seeks full SNAP funding once Democrats agree to reopen the government but insisted courts should not dictate how the executive branch manages resources during a shutdown. He reiterated the administration’s stance that “we can’t have a federal court telling the president how he has to triage the situation.”

The Trump administration initially halted November SNAP disbursements after congressional appropriations lapsed, causing concern among state agencies and food banks. Two recent rulings mandated partial payments using a $5 billion contingency fund, falling short of the $9 billion needed for full benefits.

Supporters of the court’s decision, including Democrat governors and advocacy groups, hailed it as a “major victory for hungry families.” However, conservative lawmakers and administration officials claimed the ruling undermined executive discretion during a shutdown fueled by congressional gridlock.

“The president will comply with the law,” Vance stated, “but we’re also going to make the government work for people in the best way we can.”

The ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has intensified a broader constitutional debate over judicial and executive authority. The SNAP dispute underscores tensions over responsibility for the historic Washington impasse.