A US judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), also known as food stamps, and accused the administration of withholding food aid “for political reasons.”
Judge John McConnell said in his ruling Thursday that without aid, “16 million children would immediately be at risk of starvation.”
The program is used by about 42 million people – or about one in eight – in America and helps low-income people afford groceries.
The administration had initially planned to cut off funding entirely this month in what is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history, but was ordered to make at least partial payments this month.
The Rhode Island-based judge also criticized President Donald Trump for saying benefits would only be distributed after the government shutdown ends.
He granted the request of several local governments and nonprofit groups that asked the government to provide full food benefits rather than the 65% it was ordered to pay this month.
Judge McConnell, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ordered the benefits to be paid by Friday, adding that any further delay would be “simply unacceptable.”
“This should never happen in America,” he continued.
More than 42 million Americans received Snap benefits, but the program was in limbo during the more than month-long shutdown.
While individual US states administer the benefits, the program relies on money from the federal government, which is unfunded and closed as of October 1.
Late last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which operates Snap, said it would not distribute food assistance funds starting Nov. 1 because of the shutdown, saying, “The well has dried up.”
Half the states and the District of Columbia sued the administration over the food aid freeze and argued they had a legal obligation to maintain the program in their jurisdictions.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have ruled that the administration must use $5.25 billion (£4 billion) in emergency funds to make at least partial payments to Americans.
Snap is worth about $8 billion a month and allows many low-income Americans to buy groceries. It provides them with reloadable debit cards that they can use to buy food.
A family of four averages $715 a month, which works out to just under $6 a day per person.
Amid uncertainty over Snap funding, local governments are helping direct recipients to food pantries that are conducting emergency drives.
Saving recipes have also gone viral online as Americans look for ways to stretch their budgets.
