Two nearly simultaneous court rulings force the US government to maintain the SNAP food assistance program during a complete administrative shutdown using contingency fundsThe resolutions, issued in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, seek to prevent millions of households from losing benefits due to the closure.
Both judges allow for partial or full funding of November's credits, but warn that the technical process may cause delays in top-ups. In practice, EBT cards could see their credits delayed by [a certain amount]. between one and two weeks.
Key court decisions
In Boston, Judge Indira Talwani ruled that suspending payments was illegal and demanded that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) submit an immediate plan to ensure the program's continuity, whether with full or reduced coverage. The court ordered the USDA to communicate by Monday whether the funds would be used. contingency resources and what other funds will be activated.
In Providence, Judge John J. McConnell ordered the government to use, at a minimum, the contingency fund to back up benefits, and to respect the exemptions from employment requirements that were in effect for older people, veterans and other groups.
The rulings respond to lawsuits filed by 25 states and the District of Columbia, which argue that the Administration has a legal obligation to keep SNAP operational when there are available resources authorized by Congress.
Although the Executive can file appeals, for now the judicial criterion prioritizes ensuring that services are not interrupted during the closure, even if in the first phase the funding were partial.
How much money is available and how much does SNAP cost?
SNAP supports about one in eight Americans and costs approximately 8.000 million dollars a monthTheir role within the social safety net is central for low-income families.
According to the plaintiff states, there is a contingency fund of approximately 5.000 million and another separate account close to 23.000 million which could help navigate the shutdown. Using those reserves would minimize abrupt cuts.
The government's initial position was that the £5.000 billion fund could not legally be used to support the program during the lockdown. The courts, however, have indicated that these emergency funds They must be used to ensure the continuity of payments.
The USDA had planned to halt issuances starting November 1, but orders from Massachusetts and Rhode Island require a review of the schedule and, at the very least, the activation of hedging. alternative while the administrative paralysis lasts.
What changes for beneficiaries
Top-ups on EBT cards are not immediate: state systems usually take between one and two weeksTherefore, even with the use of contingency funds, some households may notice delays in November.
The judge in Rhode Island indicated that the exemptions already authorized for certain groups must be maintained, so that no new ones are applied. job requirements during the closure to those who had valid exemptions.
States and food banks had prepared for a disruption, deploying support measures and expedited funding channels. With the failures, the situation improves, but until the refills materialize, there will still be problems. operating voltage.
Social and anti-hunger organizations have welcomed the decisions as a temporary relief and are urging the Government to clearly detail the scope (full or reduced) and the calendar of the November payments.
Political context and European reading
In Washington, the Department of Agriculture has warned that the contingency fund would not cover the program for long, and Congress failed to pass a measure to protect SNAP funding for the duration of the shutdown. The political backdrop complicates a stable solution and keeps alive the possibility of appeals.
For readers in Spain and Europe, the case illustrates how, in systems with government shutdowns, the courts can guarantee the continuity of basic benefits. In the EU, food assistance and minimum income schemes typically rely on multi-year budgets, which reduces the risk of disruptions due to political gridlock; even so, the planning and use of work? They remain key.
With the orders already in place, the ball is now in the court of the Executive Branch and the USDA: they must define whether there will be full or partial coverage and quickly activate the $5.000 billion fund and other available resources so that SNAP does not stop in November and households receive their benefits, even if it is with a slight delay.