U.S. Judge Prevents Suspension of SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown

Sat Nov 01 2025 09:35:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge intervenes to protect food assistance programs for low-income Americans during an ongoing government shutdown, criticizing the Trump administration's plan to halt SNAP benefits.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has blocked the Trump administration's plan to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, affecting more than 40 million low-income Americans. The judge deemed the proposal likely unlawful and issued a restraining order as the government shutdown continues, with USDA officials stating that funds for food assistance will run dry. Despite this, several states are stepping in to ensure continued support for families reliant on SNAP, although federal reimbursements for state funding remain uncertain. The government shutdown has sparked bipartisan blame with no immediate resolution in sight.

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from halting food aid used by more than 40 million low-income Americans amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

A Rhode Island judge said on Friday that the plan to suspend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is likely unlawful and issued a restraining order at the behest of the plaintiffs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that food assistance funds, critical during the November period, will not be distributed moving forward due to the shutdown, arguing that the well has run dry.

The SNAP program provides families with reloadable debit cards to purchase essential grocery items, with a family of four typically receiving about $715 (£540) monthly, which calculates to approximately $6 (£4.50) per day per person.

State governments administer the SNAP program, relying primarily on federal funding, which has been disrupted since the government's shutdown began at the start of October. Some states have committed to using their own funds to fill the gaps, but federal authorities warn that they will not reimburse these expenses.

The ongoing shutdown has led to a political stalemate, with both Republicans and Democrats trading blame and no substantial progress made toward a resolution.