Some Americans began seeing this month’s food stamp benefits Friday, even as the Trump administration has appealed a federal court ruling that it restart the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Shortly after a decision Thursday by U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr., an Obama appointee, ordering the government to restart the SNAP program by Friday, a growing number of states started to announce they would be issuing full SNAP benefits, NPR reported Friday.
The list includes California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Some people woke up on Friday with the money already on the debit-like EBT cards they use to buy groceries.
The Trump administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in its bid to block the release of SNAP payments for the more than 42 million Americans that rely on them. The move came after an appeals court earlier Friday rejected a request from the government to halt orders requiring them to issue SNAP payments.
SNAP funding ran out a week ago as the government shutdown entered its second month. States. Cities and food banks have been ramping up donations to fill the gap.
In his order, McConnell admonished the government for deciding earlier in the week to make only partial SNAP payments. He said officials failed to consider the
States Distribute SNAP Benefits Amid Trump DOJ Appeal
