Trump signals he'll fund SNAP after federal judges ruled the administration must keep sending out benefits [View all]

Source: Business Insider

Oct 31, 2025, 7:35 PM ET


Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled Friday afternoon that President Donald Trump must fund food stamps during the government shutdown.

In a Friday night Truth Social post, Trump signaled he would comply with the judges' orders. "Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do," the president said on Truth Social. He added, "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible."

The cases, filed on behalf of states, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations this week, called for the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown.

The rulings reverse the USDA's plans to pause benefits starting November 1 after their typical funding sources ran out. Patrick A. Penn, deputy undersecretary for US Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, said in a letter to state leaders on October 24 that the Agriculture Department is "suspending all November 2025 benefit allotments until such time as sufficient federal funding is provided, or until FNS directs State agencies otherwise."

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-benefits-food-stamps-stop-everything-to-know-2025-10