In a stunning legal blow delivered late Wednesday, a federal court rejected the administration’s request to lift a judge’s order requiring full funding of SNAP benefits for the month of November. The ruling arrives at a critical moment, as several states have already begun distributing payments amid nationwide economic strain.
The administration had argued that the judge’s mandate placed “unprecedented financial burdens” on federal agencies, but the court wasn’t having it—calling the request “insufficiently justified” and reaffirming that millions of low-income families cannot be forced to shoulder the consequences of political or bureaucratic delays.
The decision leaves the White House scrambling. With no legal relief in sight, the government must comply fully with the funding order, even as internal officials warn privately of logistical headaches and strained budgets.
Meanwhile, state agencies—many of which had already begun issuing November SNAP benefits—are treating the ruling as confirmation that they made the right call by acting early. “Families needed clarity. Tonight, they finally have it,” one state official said.
For households relying on SNAP to cover groceries in the face of surging prices, the court’s decision offers rare stability. But behind the scenes, tensions between the judiciary and the administration are rising, and insiders say this showdown could shape future battles over federal assistance programs.
One thing is clear: the fight over food assistance isn’t over—it’s only heating up.
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