President Trump indicated Friday he would fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if given “the appropriate legal direction” after a federal judge ordered officials to spend an emergency fund for the program.
SNAP benefits are set to lapse Saturday amid the ongoing government shutdown, and Trump administration officials have been adamant that they would not tap the emergency fund for the program.
“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” he continued. “Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
Trump said even if he tapped the emergency funds, SNAP benefits would be delayed for the month of November. He went on to urge Americans to contact Democrats to tell them to end the shutdown.
The president had previously tapped additional funding sources to pay members of the military.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell earlier Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off SNAP funding beginning this weekend because of the government shutdown. McConnell rejected arguments that the emergency fund can be used only for hurricanes or other uncontrollable catastrophes.
The judge ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute the emergency funds “timely or as soon as possible” and provide an update to the court by Monday.
McConnell’s ruling came moments after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a written order suggesting she’ll issue a similar block. Talwani gave the government until Monday to explain how it will use the contingency funds.
The roughly $5.25 billion fund is not enough to fully cover November benefits for the food assistance program, which will cost the government upward of $9 billion.
The administration can fully fund the gap for November using a separate source, known as Section 32 funds, which come from customs receipts. But both judges agreed the administration has discretion on whether to do so.
Lawmakers in both parties had raised concerns about the impending lapse of SNAP benefits, which help millions of Americans purchase food each month. SNAP is one of several government programs that have come under intense stress as the government shutdown stretches into its second month.
