A federal judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to fully fund food assistance for 42 million low-income Americans by Friday for November, blocking its plan to issue reduced benefits during the ongoing government shutdown .

The ruling was issued by US District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, following a virtual hearing in a lawsuit filed by nonprofits and city governments. The plaintiffs sought to stop the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from suspending payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , commonly known as food stamps .

“The evidence shows that people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened, and needless suffering will occur,” McConnell said. “That’s what irreparable harm here means.”

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