SNAP Decision: Trump Administration Told to Make Food Stamp Payments

In two separate orders the afternoon of Oct. 31, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to continue paying for food stamps during the government shutdown, report a variety of news outlets, including The New York Times. Both judges found the administration had acted unlawfully by refusing to tap an emergency reserve — enacted by Congress and totaling in the billions of dollars — to sustain the critical anti-hunger program.

In addition to the impact on shoppers, the disruption in the food-stamp system was a major concern for grocery store operators. In a statement released earlier this week, the National Grocers Association said, “With SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] fueling over 389,000 American jobs and generating $1.54 in economic activity for every dollar invested in the program, grocers’ staffing and inventory are planned around benefit cycles, so a lapse in funding could lead to reduced employee hours, perishable food losses, and declining sales. Furthermore, when benefits are restored, the resulting surge in demand could strain supply chains nationwide.”

As of this posting, it remained unclear if or when food stamps would reach the roughly 42 million lower-income people who rely on monthly federal help to purchase groceries. It was also unclear the exact amounts that they would receive. Lawyers for the Trump administration had previously suggested it could take weeks to disburse benefits, and the Justice Department could still try to appeal in the case, perhaps further delaying aid.