The Trump administration is asking a federal appeals court to block a judge’s order requiring the government to fully fund food stamp benefits for tens of millions of Americans in November.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell sharply criticized Justice Department lawyers, saying it was “simply unacceptable” to delay payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) any further.
“Without SNAP funding for the month of November, 16 million children are immediately at risk of going hungry,” McConnell said. “This should never happen in America.”
The administration’s emergency appeal was filed Friday, Nov. 7, just one day after McConnell ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must locate additional funds to make the payments in full. He rejected the government’s plan to only partially fund the program, which feeds roughly one in eight Americans.
In its filing, the Trump administration argued that the funding crisis “can only be solved by congressional action,” noting that Congress has failed since October 1 to pass a stopgap funding measure that would reopen the government and restore full SNAP payments.
Justice Department lawyers blasted McConnell’s ruling as an “unprecedented injunction” that violates the separation of powers.
“Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” they wrote. “The law is explicit that SNAP benefits are subject to available appropriations.”
As the standoff continues, tens of millions of families remain uncertain whether they’ll receive their full food assistance next month — a crisis that’s quickly turning into a national flashpoint.
