Trump Signals Willingness to Fund SNAP Following Federal Court Orders

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is prepared to restore funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if given clear legal authority to do so, following a federal court order directing his administration to utilize emergency resources to keep the program running during the ongoing government shutdown.

The statement came as SNAP benefits—vital to millions of low-income Americans—were set to lapse on Saturday amid a standoff in Washington that has stretched into its second month. Until this point, administration officials had maintained that they lacked the legal authority to access certain emergency funds without explicit congressional or judicial authorization, according to The Hill.

“Our government lawyers do not believe we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with some of the funds currently available, and now two courts have issued conflicting rulings about what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I do not want Americans to go hungry just because Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and reopen the government. I’ve instructed our lawyers to seek immediate clarification from the courts so we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”

The president added that even if emergency funding were unlocked, recipients could still experience delays in their November payments. He urged Americans to pressure Democratic lawmakers to approve a budget deal, noting that his administration had already found creative ways to ensure continued pay for members of the U.S. military despite the shutdown.

Courts Step In to Protect Benefits

Earlier Friday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a sweeping order blocking the administration from halting SNAP payments over the weekend. In his ruling, McConnell rejected the government’s argument that the SNAP contingency fund could only be used in response to natural disasters or other emergencies unrelated to funding gaps. Instead, he determined that the fund could be legally tapped even while the program lacked full appropriations.

“The USDA must release the emergency funds timely or as soon as possible,” McConnell wrote, instructing the agency to update the court by Monday on its progress in restoring benefits.

Just minutes later, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued her own written order suggesting she might also intervene to ensure the continuation of SNAP payments. Talwani gave the government until Monday to outline how it intended to utilize the emergency reserves and other potential funding sources.

Together, the two rulings effectively forced the administration to take action to prevent millions of families from losing access to food assistance as the shutdown persisted.

The Funding Dilemma

The USDA’s emergency fund currently holds approximately $5.25 billion—significantly short of the roughly $9 billion required to fully cover November’s SNAP disbursements. Officials have discussed the possibility of using a separate account known as Section 32 funds, derived from customs receipts, to bridge the gap. Both judges acknowledged that the ultimate decision on whether to use those funds rests with the administration’s discretion.

The legal wrangling reflects the increasingly urgent financial strain created by the prolonged shutdown. Federal agencies have been forced to suspend or scale back numerous programs, while millions of government employees continue to work without pay. SNAP, one of the largest and most visible federal assistance programs, provides critical food support to more than 40 million Americans each month.

Political Fallout and Partisan Tension

Lawmakers from both parties have voiced alarm over the potential lapse in food assistance, though they remain bitterly divided over the broader budget impasse. In the Senate, Democrats have repeatedly blocked the Republican-backed resolution to reopen the government, voting against it 14 times. The measure requires 60 votes to advance; so far, only a handful of Democrats have sided with Republicans in supporting the House-passed funding bill.

Republicans accuse Senate Democrats of prioritizing partisan issues over essential services. The USDA issued a stark warning earlier this week, stating that without congressional action, no food stamp benefits would be distributed on November 1. “The well has run dry,” read a notice posted to the agency’s website.

The statement went on to say that Democrats “can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender-related procedures—or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and vulnerable families can receive critical nutrition assistance.”

Democrats, meanwhile, have argued that the shutdown stems from the administration’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, accusing Trump of using essential programs like SNAP as political leverage. They insist that the president could immediately sign a bipartisan continuing resolution to restore full government operations without further delay.

What Comes Next

As the weekend approached, the administration faced mounting pressure from the courts, the public, and both political parties to ensure that SNAP benefits continue without interruption. While Trump expressed his willingness to comply with judicial direction, uncertainty remains about whether emergency funds will be sufficient—or legally accessible—to meet November’s full benefit obligations.

With multiple court orders now in effect and agencies scrambling to comply, the fate of SNAP funding may hinge on how quickly the administration and Congress can reconcile their political and legal differences. For millions of Americans relying on the program to put food on the table, that decision cannot come soon enough.