PHOENIX — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked an order requiring the Trump administration to fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments during the ongoing federal shutdown.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the emergency order after lower courts ruled that the administration must use reserve funds to pay full November benefits. The ruling pauses those payments until an appeals court decides whether to allow a longer suspension.
The administration had been preparing to cover only 65% of normal benefits, citing limited funds in a $4.6 billion contingency account. Full monthly payments typically total around $8.5 billion to $9 billion nationwide.
Officials in several states — including California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — said they rushed to issue full benefits after the earlier court order, while others, such as Arizona, said full payments would be available in the coming days depending on federal guidance.
The legal back-and-forth follows a series of rulings in lawsuits led by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and other state officials challenging the administration’s partial payment plan. Mayes has said the benefit suspension could impact nearly 900,000 Arizonans, including veterans, seniors, and children.
For now, the Supreme Court’s order leaves millions uncertain about when — and how much — food assistance they will receive.
Residents seeking updates or local food resources can visit the Arizona Food Bank Network or the City of Phoenix’s food assistance portal at phoenix.gov/foodhelp.
