{"id":44888,"date":"2025-11-04T12:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T20:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=44888"},"modified":"2025-11-04T12:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T20:06:10","slug":"not-good-enough-trump-to-pay-partial-november-snap-benefits-after-court-rulings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/11\/04\/not-good-enough-trump-to-pay-partial-november-snap-benefits-after-court-rulings\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Not Good Enough\u2019: Trump to Pay Partial November SNAP Benefits After Court Rulings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A volunteer prepares food packages at a distribution event sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and volunteers at the Apostolic Church of Jesus on October 31, 2025 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo by Paul Hennessy\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrump needs to stop weaponizing hunger. They have the authority to fully fund SNAP,\u201d said Rep. Rashida Tlaib. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t take a court order to get the president to stop starving families and release the funds.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Corbett<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nov 03, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the verge of the longest government shutdown in US history and in the wake of two losses in district courts, President Donald Trump\u2019s administration announced Monday that it would only partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program<\/a> benefits for 42 million Americans this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to lawsuits filed by state attorneys general<\/a>, municipalities<\/a>, nonprofits, and labor<\/a> groups, federal judges in Massachusetts<\/a> and Rhode Island on Friday ruled<\/a> against the US Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA<\/a>) refusal<\/a> to use a contingency fund for at least some of November\u2019s $8 billion in SNAP<\/a> benefits, often called food<\/a> stamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECOMMENDED…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"US-POLITICS-SHUTDOWN-FOOD-GOVERNMENT\"\/<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite Court Rulings, Trump Refuses to Pay Out Food Stamp Benefits to Tens of Millions<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"United<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It Does Not Have to Be This Way\u2019: Child Hunger Set to Surge as Trump Withholds SNAP Funds<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Judge John McConnell, appointed to the District of Rhode Island by former President Barack Obama<\/a>, gave the USDA two options: Fully cover the November SNAP benefits with the emergency funding and money pulled from other sources by the end of Monday, or make a partial payment of the total amount of the contingency fund by the end of Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a\u00a0pair<\/a>\u00a0of Monday\u00a0filings<\/a>, the\u00a0Trump administration<\/a>\u00a0chose the latter, explaining that there is \u201ca total of $4.65 billion in the contingency fund for November SNAP benefits that will all be obligated to cover 50% of eligible households\u2019 current allotments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/RepSummerLee\/status\/1985423219931648326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985423219931648326%7Ctwgr%5E344a526d39075f744216535b7b17861bab9b2a08%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fnovember-snap-benefits<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the development means millions of low-income families will at least get some benefits this month, a hunger<\/a> crisis still looms. As one of the filings notes, \u201cThis means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Monday statement<\/a>, Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy<\/a> Forward, which is representing the municipalities, nonprofits, and labor groups that sued in Rhode Island, welcomed that McConnell\u2019s order \u201cmeans SNAP beneficiaries\u2014including children<\/a> and seniors\u2014whose money ran out at the end of last month should be receiving funds for essential nutrition.\u201d However, she also called out the Trump administration for \u201cstill trying to deprive people of their full benefits,\u201d which \u201cwill not only prevent people from getting the full sustenance they need but also delay payments going out altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are reviewing the administration\u2019s submission to the court and considering all legal options to secure payment of full funds,\u201d she pledged. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t take a court order to force our president to provide essential nutrition that Congress<\/a> has made clear needs to be provided. But since that is what it takes, we will continue to use the courts to protect the rights of people. For now, we are pleased to have forced the administration to release money it had been withholding from 42 million people in America who rely on their benefits. Rest assured, we will continue to fight so that people have the full benefits they are entitled to under SNAP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell\u2014who co-led the case in her state with over two dozen other AGs\u2014noted<\/a> Monday that \u201cnever in the history of the SNAP program\u2014including during government shutdowns\u2014has SNAP funding ever been suspended or only partially funded.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile some funding is better than no funding, the federal government has made it clear that they are only willing to do the bare minimum to help our residents, and only after they were required to do so by our lawsuit and the courts,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Trump administration has the means to fund this program in full, and their decision not to will leave millions of Americans hungry and waiting even longer for relief as government takes the additional steps needed to partially fund this program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/Ilhan\/status\/1985428285468356803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985428285468356803%7Ctwgr%5E344a526d39075f744216535b7b17861bab9b2a08%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fnovember-snap-benefits<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democrats in Congress\u2014who have refused to vote for the GOP<\/a> majorities\u2019 funding legislation to end the shutdown unless they reverse devastating cuts to Medicaid<\/a> and extend expiring Affordable Care Act<\/a> tax credits\u2014also criticized the USDA\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUSDA has the authority to fully fund SNAP and needs to do so immediately. Anything else is unacceptable,\u201d Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) said<\/a> on social media<\/a>. \u201cTrump\u2019s \u2018decision\u2019 to follow the court order and only send partial SNAP benefits to 42 million hungry Americans as Thanksgiving approaches is cruel and callous. Trump should focus less on his ballroom and his bathroom and more on the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) similarly said<\/a>: \u201cThe letter of the law is as plain as day. Trump should have paid SNAP benefits all along. Just now paying the bare minimum to partially fund SNAP is not enough, and it is not acceptable. Trump should immediately work to fully fund benefits under the law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Senate Democrats from Massachusetts,\u00a0Ed Markey<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Elizabeth Warren<\/a>, also took aim at the president on Monday. Markey\u00a0said<\/a>: \u201cTwo federal courts confirm what we already knew: Trump must use contingency funds to fund SNAP this month. But millions will still see their benefits delayed because Trump tried to hold SNAP hostage. No more games. Use all available resources to ensure no one goes hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/SenWarren\/status\/1985411428246044917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985411428246044917%7Ctwgr%5E344a526d39075f744216535b7b17861bab9b2a08%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fnovember-snap-benefits<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s the Senate where Republicans<\/a> need some Democratic votes to send a government spending bill to Trump\u2019s desk, House Democrats<\/a> also blasted the administration\u2019s decision to only partially fund SNAP benefits in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a very temporary Band-Aid,\u201d stressed<\/a> Rep. Pramila Jayapal<\/a> (D-Wash.), adding that \u201c42 million hardworking Americans are trying to figure out how they will keep food on the table. Partial is not good enough. End this Republican shutdown now so we can fully fund SNAP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congresswoman\u00a0Rashida Tlaib<\/a>\u00a0(D-Mich.)\u00a0declared<\/a>: \u201cTrump needs to stop weaponizing hunger. They have the authority to fully fund SNAP for 42 million Americans\u2014including 1.4 million Michiganders. Anything less is unacceptable. It shouldn\u2019t take a court order to get the president to stop starving families and release the funds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Corbett<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Bio ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A volunteer prepares food packages at a distribution event sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and volunteers at the Apostolic Church of Jesus on October 31, 2025 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. \u00a0(Photo by Paul Hennessy\/Anadolu via Getty Images) \u201cTrump needs to stop weaponizing hunger. They have… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44888"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44888"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44889,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44888\/revisions\/44889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}