Summary
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to decide by Monday whether to provide at least partial SNAP benefits to 42 million people who are low-income. This comes after the administration decided to suspend the food assistance program, leading to a lawsuit from Democratic-led states. The judge acknowledged the legal challenge as valid but did not immediately stop the suspension.
Key Facts
- A judge ordered the Trump administration to make a decision on SNAP food benefits by Monday.
- The decision affects 42 million low-income people who rely on this assistance.
- The federal judge, Indira Talwani, acknowledged that many people will lose food assistance starting Saturday.
- The case arose because the Trump administration decided to halt SNAP during a government shutdown.
- Democratic-led states sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, claiming the halt was unlawful.
- The judge agreed with the lawsuit's legal concerns but chose not to block the suspension right away.
- Judge Talwani stated that emergency funds should be used to continue SNAP benefits.
