WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court said Friday that the Trump administration does not have to immediately pay SNAP food benefits defunded during the government shutdown, a temporary order that leaves millions in limbo.
A lower court this week ruled that President Donald Trump’s government must fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for November by the end of the day Friday.
It ordered the administration to use contingency funds to make a multi-billion-dollar payment to states so they could distribute food stamps to around 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to afford groceries.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the so-called administrative stay that pauses the process and gives the court system additional time to consider the administration’s request.
Earlier Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) appealed to the court saying only Congress had the power to resolve the crisis.
