Judge Orders Trump To Continue SNAP Benefits: What It Means For NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Two federal judges have ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP benefits by using contingency funds during the government shutdown.

The Trump administration will now need to decide whether it will fund the program partially or in full for November.

The rulings came a day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the program.

The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans, costing about $8 billion per month nationally.

In preparation of a potential stoppage in SNAP benefits and payments, Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced $65 million in state funding for emergency food assistance.

The money would go towards New York’s food banks and pantries and providing about 40 million meals to New Yorkers in need.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams also announced on Thursday $15 million in emergency funding for food assistance coupled with an all-hands-on-deck response to prepare for the potential food emergency during the federal government shutdown.

Judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had similar opinions in their decision.

U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence ruled that the program must be funded using at least the contingency funds, and he asked for an update on progress by Monday.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled in a written opinion that the USDA has to pay for SNAP, calling the suspension "unlawful." She ordered the federal government to advise the court by Monday whether they will use the contingency funds to provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the program "using both contingency funds and additional available funds.

The rulings are likely to face appeals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.