WASHINGTON — Two federal judges issued rulings on Friday that challenge the Trump administration’s plan to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to utilize available emergency funding to maintain food assistance payments.

I n Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued an oral ruling from the bench requiring the USDA to distribute contingency funds to continue SNAP payments that were scheduled to begin Saturday, November 1. The judge determined that halting benefits for more than 40 million low-income Americans would constitute arbitrary action under the Administrative Procedure Act.

D uring Friday’s hearing, Judge McConnell emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that har

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