Erik Uebelacker

(CN) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from halting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as the government remains shut down with federal lawmakers unable to strike a budget deal .

U.S. District Judge John McConnell, a Barack Obama appointee in Rhode Island federal court, issued a bench ruling that grants a temporary restraining order keeping the program alive.

A group of cities, charities, churches, nonprofits and unions sued the Department of Agriculture on Thursday after the department announced it would be pausing SNAP benefits for the month of November due to the federal government’s ongoing shutdown.

“Today’s ruling is a lifeline for millions of families, seniors, and veterans who depend on SNAP to put food on the table,

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