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Trump also warned that even with emergency measures, delays in November’s benefits could occur, citing ongoing legal and bureaucratic confusion. Still, he urged Americans to hold Democrats accountable, reminding the public that his administration has already found ways to ensure military families get paid despite the shutdown.
The legal tug-of-war intensified earlier Friday when U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued an order blocking the Trump administration from pausing SNAP payments over the weekend. McConnell dismissed arguments that emergency funds should be reserved for natural disasters, ruling instead that the USDA could tap into them immediately to prevent a disruption in benefits.
He directed the Department of Agriculture to release the emergency funds “timely or as soon as possible” and to provide the court with a progress update by Monday.
Not long after McConnell’s ruling, another federal judge, Indira Talwani, issued her own order suggesting she may also block any suspension of SNAP benefits. Talwani gave the administration until Monday to clarify its plan for using contingency funds.
At the center of the legal battle is a $5.25 billion emergency account — a massive sum, yet not enough to fully cover November’s estimated $9 billion in SNAP costs. The administration could fill the gap by using what’s known as “Section 32” funds, which come from customs receipts, but both judges made clear that it’s ultimately up to the executive branch to decide how to proceed.
Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress are expressing concern about the looming lapse in benefits. Yet despite the warnings, Senate Democrats have repeatedly refused to pass a clean budget resolution that would reopen the government and secure food assistance funding.
So far, Democrats have voted fourteen times against Republican-led efforts to pass a spending bill — leaving only a handful of members willing to cross party lines and side with the 53 Senate Republicans backing the House-passed plan.
The Department of Agriculture has also sounded the alarm, warning earlier this week that “tens of millions” could lose access to food assistance if Senate Democrats don’t act soon.
“At this time, there will be no benefits issued on November 1st. Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA stated on its website.
The department didn’t mince words when outlining the stakes: “We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
While Democrats continue to dig in, Trump is once again positioning himself as the one fighting for ordinary Americans — pushing the courts for clarity, finding creative solutions, and calling out Washington’s dysfunction for what it is: a political stunt hurting the very people Democrats claim to defend.
As the shutdown stretches on, one thing is clear — Trump is ready to act, while Democrats are willing to let America go hungry to score political points.
I heard someone make a great point… If a Federal Judge can order Trump to Keep SNAP Benefits going, Why Can’t A Federal Judge Order The Democrats To Vote To Keep The Government Open!?!? If they have the Power to Force this on The President Of The United States, Surely they Have The Power To Force Democrats To Open Up The Government As Well!! So What’s The Hold Up!? … Because They Care SO MUCH About The Children!!! Yeah, Right!!