Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.

[bigtree]

Skye Perryman (President & CEO, Democracy Forward) @SkyePerryman
BREAKING: Federal court just GRANTED our court order to block Trump admin from shutting down SNAP. Order also issued in state AG case. Hope millions can breathe a sigh of relief. Incredible work to @DemocracyFwd and our co-counsel.


Federal judges rule Trump's freeze on SNAP funding during shutdown is likely 'unlawful'

On Friday two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously that President Donald Trump’s administration must to continue to fund SNAP, the nation’s biggest food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown.

The rulings came a day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani told lawyers that if the government can’t afford to cover the cost, there’s a process to follow rather than simply suspending all benefits. “The steps involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits,” said Talwani, who was nominated to the court by former President Barack Obama.

Talwani seemed to be leaning toward requiring the government to put billions of dollars in emergency funds toward SNAP. That, she said, is her interpretation of what Congress intended when an agency’s funding runs out.

“If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” she said in court. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judge-rules-trumps-freeze-on-snap-funding-during-shutdown-is-likely-unlawful/ar-AA1PAuL3


Skye Perryman (she/her) @SkyePerryman 21h
The Trump-Vance admin’s outright refusal to fund SNAP for millions, including children & senior citizens, is immoral & unlawful. Turning hunger into a political weapon is not governing – it’s cruelty.

So we sued on behalf of the broadest coalition yet.

https://democracyforward.org/updates/snap-lawsuit-filed/


Popok explains:

[W_HAMILTON]

1. If it wasn't already made clear enough, it certainly is now: IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE YOUR SNAP, IT'S BECAUSE OF REPUBLICANS

[bigtree]

2. breaking the law

...like republicans will.

[MichMan]

3. Does the court ruling apply indefinitely ?

What if the shutdown lasts 3 more months or longer?

[leftstreet]

4. +1

good question

[bigtree]

6. what I think

...is that this judge isn't sure at all about telling the government how to spend money, due to recent bouts with the Supreme Court maga majority that frowned on them telling papa what to do.

This judge is telling the government to take a fraction of the money in the contingency fund and spend it now, before she or anyone else makes a definitive action regarding SNAP, in order to avoid hurting people for what she says are politically based events, and she says, is very likely illegal.

She will likely rule further on Monday, but this gives the government a chance to work out an option themselves, showing the good faith that this court demands but probably doesn't really know if she can expect from them.

I'd guess she issues a formal temporary restraining order on Monday requiring the government to follow the law.

[bigtree]

5. watch Popok

...then come back with the questions.

[sakabatou]

7. "Let them starve!" -Dump, probably