Two federal judges have indicated they expect the Trump administration to pay for food assistance benefits in Michigan and other states despite its reluctance to do so as the federal shutdown enters its second month.
In one case brought in Rhode Island by city officials, churches and nonprofit organizations, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. ruled on Friday, Oct. 31 that food assistance benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are an entitlement under the law that must be paid.
In a separate case in Massachusetts in which Michigan and other states challenged the Trump administration's plan to cease paying SNAP benefits on Saturday, Nov. 1. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order that gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) until Monday, Nov. 3 to decide if it wants to pay partial or full benefits.
Talwani clearly indicated she thinks USDA, which oversees SNAP, must pay the benefits in some fashion despite the federal shutdown, when some $5 billion or more in contingency funds are available.
"(The states) have demonstrated a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claim ... that defendants’ suspension of SNAP benefits is contrary to law," wrote Talwani, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2014.
