Appeals Court Orders Full SNAP Funding as States Begin Payments

The fight over food aid just took a major turn. A federal appeals court has refused to block a ruling ordering the Trump administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November.

This comes after weeks of uncertainty as the government shutdown left millions of low-income families wondering if they would get their full benefits. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps around 42 million Americans put food on the table every month.

The administration had argued it could only issue partial payments, citing funding limits. But the court said no, directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release full benefits by Friday. Several states, including New York, California, and Wisconsin, already started issuing payments to make sure families are not left waiting.

The Trump administration is immediately appealing to the Supreme Court, saying the judge’s order forces spending without congressional approval. But for immediately, the ruling stands and families will receive their full SNAP benefits.

This decision lands at a critical time, especially for households already struggling with inflation and rising grocery costs. Advocacy groups say the ruling is a huge relief but warn that the ongoing shutdown continues to threaten essential programs like SNAP.