| |
Uncertainty as Admin Tries to Stop SNAP11/10 06:19
States administering a federal food aid program serving about 42 million
Americans faced uncertainty Monday over whether they can -- and should --
provide full monthly benefits during an ongoing legal battle involving the U.S.
government shutdown.
(AP) -- States administering a federal food aid program serving about 42
million Americans faced uncertainty Monday over whether they can -- and should
-- provide full monthly benefits during an ongoing legal battle involving the
U.S. government shutdown.
President Donald Trump's administration over the weekend demanded that
states "undo" full benefits that were paid under the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program during a one-day window between when a federal judge ordered
full funding and a Supreme Court justice put a temporary pause on that order.
A federal appeals court in Boston left the full benefits order in place on
Sunday, though the Supreme Court order ensures the government won't have to pay
out for at least 48 hours. The Trump administration is also expected to ask the
justices to step in again, and Congress is considering whether to fund SNAP as
part of a proposal to end the government shutdown.
Some states are warning of "catastrophic operational disruptions" if the
Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they
already authorized. Meanwhile, other states are providing partial monthly SNAP
benefits with federal money or using their own funds to load electronic benefit
cards for SNAP recipients.
Millions receive aid while others wait
Trump's administration initially said SNAP benefits would not be available
in November because of the government shutdown. After some states and nonprofit
groups sued, two judges each ruled the administration could not skip November's
benefits entirely.
The administration then said it would use an emergency reserve fund to
provide 65% of the maximum monthly benefit. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge
John J. McConnell said that wasn't good enough, and ordered full funding for
SNAP benefits by Friday.
Some states acted quickly to direct their EBT vendors to disburse full
monthly benefits to SNAP recipients. Millions of people in those states
received funds to buy groceries before Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson put
McConnell's order on hold Friday night, pending further deliberation by an
appeals court.
Millions more people still have not received SNAP payments for November,
because their states were waiting on further guidance from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, which administers SNAP.
Trump's administration has argued that the judicial order to provide full
benefits violates the Constitution by infringing on the spending power of the
legislative and executive branches.
States are fighting attempt to freeze SNAP benefits
On Sunday, the Trump administration said states had moved too quickly and
erroneously released full SNAP benefits after last week's rulings.
"States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits
for November 2025," Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote
to state SNAP directors. He warned that states could face penalties if they did
not comply.
Wisconsin, which was among the first to load full benefits after McConnell's
order, had its federal reimbursement frozen. As a result, the state's SNAP
account could be depleted as soon Monday, leaving no money to reimburse stores
that sell food to SNAP recipients, according to a court filing submitted by
those that had sued.
Some Democratic governors vowed to challenge any federal attempt to claw
back money.
In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said "those who received their
benefits should not worry about losing them."
"No, Connecticut does not need to take back SNAP benefits already sent to
the 360,000 people who depend on them for food and who should have never been
caught in the middle of this political fight," Lamont said. "We have their
back."
|
|
