In a tense late-night move, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily sided with the Trump administration, halting a lower-court order that had required the government to fully fund SNAP benefits during the ongoing shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s unsigned ruling freezes the Rhode Island judge’s mandate, allowing only partial food-assistance payments until the appeals court decides whether to extend the stay.
The decision sparked chaos across several states that had already rushed to issue full benefits to millions of low-income families. Governors in Wisconsin, Oregon, and Hawaii confirmed overnight distributions, while federal officials accused them of draining limited reserves. The administration argues that courts cannot force spending without congressional approval, framing the fight as a test of separation of powers. For now, millions of Americans remain caught in limbo — unsure when or if their next full SNAP payment will arrive.
