Admin Face Court Deadline on SNAP Funds11/03 06:01

   President Donald Trump's administration faces deadlines on Monday to tell 
two federal judges whether it will comply with court orders that it continue to 
fund SNAP, the nation's biggest food aid program, using contingency funds 
during the government shutdown.

   (AP) -- President Donald Trump's administration faces deadlines on Monday to 
tell two federal judges whether it will comply with court orders that it 
continue to fund SNAP, the nation's biggest food aid program, using contingency 
funds during the government shutdown.

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program starting Nov. 1 because it said it 
could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown. The program serves about 1 
in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation's social safety net -- and it 
costs about $8 billion per month nationally.

   The situation leaves millions with uncertainty about how they will feed 
themselves. Benefits will be delayed in November regardless of the outcome of 
the court cases because many beneficiaries have their cards recharged early in 
the month and the process of loading cards can take a week or more in many 
states.

   Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, as well as 
the District of Columbia, challenged the plan to pause the program, contending 
that the administration has a legal obligation to keep it running in their 
jurisdictions. Cities and nonprofits also filed a lawsuit.

   On Friday, judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled separately that 
the administration must continue to pay for SNAP. They both gave the 
administration leeway on whether to fund the program partially or in full for 
November.

   The USDA has a $5 billion contingency fund for the program, but the Trump 
administration reversed an earlier agency plan to use that money to keep SNAP 
running. Democratic officials argue that the administration could also use a 
separate fund of about $23 billion.

   U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, said SNAP 
must be funded using at least contingency funds, and he asked for an update on 
progress by Monday.

   He said all previous work requirement waivers must continue to be honored. 
During the shutdown, the USDA has terminated existing waivers that exempted 
work requirements for older adults, veterans and others.

   In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled the suspension was 
unlawful and said USDA has to pay for SNAP. Talwani ordered the federal 
government to advise by Monday whether they will use emergency reserve funds to 
provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the program using both 
contingency funds and additional available funds.

   Advocates and beneficiaries say halting the food aid would force people to 
choose between buying groceries and paying other bills. The majority of states 
have announced more or expedited funding for food banks or novel ways to load 
at least some benefits onto the SNAP debit cards.

   To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a family of four's net income after certain 
expenses can't exceed the federal poverty line, which is about $32,000 per 
year. Last year, SNAP assisted nearly 42 million people, about two-thirds of 
whom were families with children.