The Trump administration on Friday asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to block a Rhode Island judge’s order requiring the government to fully fund November food stamp payments for tens of millions of Americans.
The Justice Department, representing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), argued that District Judge John McConnell overstepped his authority by directing the agency to find an additional $4 billion to cover the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing government shutdown.
NEW: The Trump administration moved on Friday to deny swift and full food stamp payments to millions of low-income Americans, as it asked a federal appeals court to halt a judge’s recent order that would preserve those benefits during the shutdown. https://t.co/r8gJjY4PVX
— tony romm (@TonyRomm) November 7, 2025
Justice Department lawyers said the order “makes a mockery of the separation of powers,” insisting that courts lack authority to allocate federal funds.
The USDA had already approved partial benefits earlier in the week after a previous ruling. Nearly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, with payments distributed throughout the month.
Some states began issuing partial benefits Friday, while others warned of possible delays depending on the appeals court’s decision.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
