Judge Orders Trump Administration To Deliver Full Snap Benefits To States By Friday

A national judge successful Rhode Island has ordered nan Trump management to present SNAP payments successful afloat to states by Friday.

The order, which U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued Thursday afternoon, followed two weeks of chaos and confusion astir the destiny of nan Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, besides known arsenic nutrient stamps, during nan authorities shutdown.

McConnell ruled past week that the Trump administration had to administer benefits arsenic soon arsenic possible, successful consequence to a suit revenge by nan progressive ineligible defense group Democracy Forward.

The management agreed to partially money nan program by utilizing $4.65 cardinal successful contingency costs to cover astir 65% eligible households’ benefits. But it declined to tie from further backing group speech for kid nutrition programs. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins besides said it would return respective weeks to present nan partial payments.

Given those expected delays, Democracy Forward revenge an emergency petition asking McConnell to bid nan Trump management to expedite benefits aliases assistance further relief.

At a proceeding connected Thursday, nan Trump management said it had complied pinch nan judge’s bid and based on that nan logic group person not received their SNAP benefits is that states person not distributed them. Tyler Becker, counsel to nan Assistant Attorney General, said nan partial benefits were released to states connected Monday, adding that “this is simply a authorities problem.”

But McConnell said nan Trump management “did thing to ensure” that SNAP benefits would beryllium delivered this week. He ordered nan management to usage nan backing for kid nutrition programs, known arsenic Section 32 funding, successful summation to nan contingency costs to make judge payments are delivered successful full.

“The grounds shows that group will spell hungry, nutrient pantries will beryllium overburdened and needless suffering will occur,” McConnell said. “Last weekend, SNAP benefits lapsed for nan first clip successful our nation’s history. This is simply a problem that could person and should person been avoided.”