Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump's administration to temporarily stop the distribution of $4 billion in food aid for November. This affects 42 million people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, amid a prolonged government shutdown. The decision provides time for a lower court to review the case.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to withhold $4 billion in SNAP benefits.
- 42 million low-income Americans rely on SNAP, which provides food aid.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a stay, delaying a lower court's ruling to release the full funding.
- SNAP costs between $8.5 billion to $9 billion monthly.
- The Trump administration had planned to provide $4.65 billion in emergency funding, which is half the needed amount.
- The temporary withholding is due to the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown.
- SNAP benefits lapsed for the first time in its history as of November.
- A federal judge had accused the administration of withholding funds for "political reasons."
