Judge Commends President’s Swift Action Amid SNAP Funding Showdown as Shutdown Deepens Political Divide

A federal judge in Rhode Island issued rare praise for President Donald Trump on Friday, commending his administration’s “quick and definitive response” to a court order concerning the continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.

U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., appointed by former President Barack Obama, acknowledged the president’s effort in a written opinion, highlighting what he described as a “decisive move” to ensure that millions of Americans did not face delays in food aid.

“The court greatly appreciates the president’s quick and definitive response to this court’s order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding,” McConnell wrote in a Saturday filing.

The ruling comes at a time of heightened tension in Washington, where a prolonged funding stalemate has shuttered large portions of the federal government and left essential services scrambling to operate on contingency funds.

A Lifeline for Millions

SNAP, commonly known as the food stamp program, supports roughly 42 million Americans each month—nearly one in eight people nationwide. Recipients rely on electronic benefit cards to buy basic groceries, and even short disruptions to the program can have cascading effects on families already living paycheck to paycheck.

Advocates have warned for days that the program’s funding lapse could lead to hunger or financial strain for millions of low-income households. As of November 1, SNAP funding officially ran dry due to the ongoing shutdown, which Democrats in the Senate have refused to end by blocking multiple GOP-led funding resolutions.

McConnell’s ruling ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure full November benefits are distributed by Monday, November 3, or that partial payments are issued by Wednesday, November 5.

“There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” McConnell wrote, emphasizing that his order should be interpreted as both urgent and binding.

Legal Dispute Over Contingency Funds

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins countered that the judge’s interpretation of the law was flawed. Rollins argued that contingency funds can only be accessed when the program is fully funded or in the event of natural disasters — not during political stalemates.

“The law is very specific on how and when contingency funds can be utilized,” Rollins said in a statement following the ruling.

McConnell pushed back on that claim, noting that Trump himself had issued prior guidance during his first term authorizing such funds to prevent benefit interruptions during lapses in federal appropriations.

“In fact, the president during his first term issued guidance indicating that these contingency funds are available if SNAP funds lapse due to a government shutdown,” McConnell added in his opinion.

The administration has not yet indicated whether it plans to appeal the decision or seek clarification from the U.S. Supreme Court.

A Parallel Ruling in Boston

In a similar case, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, also an Obama appointee, ruled from Boston that the USDA must continue issuing SNAP payments nationwide, calling any suspension of the program “unlawful.” Her decision aligned with McConnell’s, adding pressure on the administration to move quickly.

As a result, USDA officials are now working with state agencies to release November benefits as soon as possible, though logistical hurdles could delay the process by up to two weeks.

Political Fallout and Public Sentiment

Meanwhile, the political ramifications of the food assistance crisis are beginning to reverberate. Pollster Matt Towery told Fox News on Friday that the Democrats’ attempt to leverage the SNAP issue against Republicans may be backfiring.

“Democrats really wanted people to not get this assistance and be up in arms and very upset, and cause more turmoil over the next week,” Towery said during an appearance on The Ingraham Angle. “But these judges have stepped in and said, ‘We’re going to feed you,’ and that has undercut their strategy.”

Towery argued that the shutdown’s narrative is shifting, with more Americans questioning not only the partisan deadlock but also the structure of federal assistance programs themselves.

“There’s a slow shift. You won’t see it from the legacy pollsters, and you won’t hear it from the legacy media. But the country is beginning to shift,” he added. “Younger voters, the ones entering the workforce, are starting to rethink how they view government aid.”

The Road Ahead

For now, the court rulings have given the administration temporary breathing room — and millions of families renewed access to food benefits. But as the shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight, both sides remain entrenched in political posturing.

Republicans insist that Democrats could end the crisis immediately by allowing a vote on a clean funding bill. Democrats, in turn, continue to accuse the White House of manufacturing the standoff for political gain.

Trump, for his part, has continued to use his Truth Social platform to urge Americans to pressure Senate Democrats to “reopen the government and feed our citizens.”

With no end to the shutdown on the horizon, the president’s next move — and how the courts respond — could determine not only the future of SNAP funding but also the balance of political power heading into the next election cycle.