PHOENIX — A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, following intense pushback from Arizona and 24 other states.
The decision by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. came after weeks of uncertainty, during which the administration initially announced that no SNAP benefits would be paid during the ongoing federal government shutdown, later offering partial payments through emergency funds.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a multistate lawsuit arguing that the administration’s actions were unlawful and harmful to millions of Americans who depend on SNAP — including an estimated 900,000 Arizonans.
“Despite multiple court rulings, the Trump administration is holding SNAP funding hostage cruelly and illegally during the month of Thanksgiving,” Mayes said in a statement. “I’m proud to be fighting alongside 25 other states to help hundreds of thousands of Arizonans access their food benefits this month — including 25% of the kids in Arizona.”
The judge’s ruling requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resume full SNAP payments using available contingency funds, rejecting the administration’s proposal to only cover about 65% of benefits.
SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program, serves roughly 1 in 8 Americans and provides critical support for low-income families, seniors, and veterans. Arizona officials and food banks have warned that any disruption could strain local resources as families struggle to put food on the table during the holiday season.
