A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration Thursday to find money to fully fund the snap benefits for November.
The ruling by District Judge John J McConnell Jr. on Thursday was the answer to a challenge from the complaining cities and the administration that offered the 65% maximum benefit. The government said it would rely on $4.65bn in emergency funds.
“The defendants failed to consider the practical consequences associated with this decision to only fund the fund,” McConnell said. “They know that there will be a long delay in the payment of parts of the payment of the partial snap and fail to consider the damages that the person who depends on the benefits will suffer.”
The Trump administration said last month that it would not pay benefits for November because of the Federal Shutdown. Last week, two judges ordered the government to pay minimum benefits using an emergency fund. It initially said it would cover half, but later said it would cover 65%.
The Plaintiffs want the benefits to be fully funded.
The US Department of Agriculture said last month that benefits for November will not be paid due to the Federal Government Contrudon. That set off a scramble by food banks, state governments and nearly 42 million Americans who receive aid to find ways to access groceries.
The program serves as one of the eight American and a key piece of the country’s national security. It costs more than $ 8bn per month to the country.