A federal judge has mandated that the Trump administration fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued the order, requiring the administration to make the necessary payments by Friday. This ruling affects approximately 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP for food assistance.

Judge McConnell criticized the administration for its decision to only provide 65% of the maximum benefit, which would leave many recipients without any support for the month. He stated, "People have gone without for too long, not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable." The judge emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that without full funding, 16 million children could face hunger.

The judge's order comes amid an ongoing government shutdown, which has complicated funding for various programs. Earlier this week, President Trump indicated that SNAP would not be funded until the government reopens, which Judge McConnell rebuked. He pointed out that the administration had additional emergency funds available but chose not to utilize them to meet the court's requirements.

In a previous ruling, Judge McConnell had instructed the government to use a $4.6 billion emergency reserve fund to cover SNAP benefits for November. However, the administration announced it would only provide partial benefits, claiming it was up to Congress to allocate additional funds. This decision drew criticism from various cities and nonprofit organizations that rely on SNAP to support vulnerable populations.

The situation has created confusion and concern among SNAP beneficiaries. On Monday, the administration stated it would not tap into other available funds, and Trump later suggested that future payments could be at risk if Congress did not agree to reopen the government.

Democratic Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts expressed frustration over the administration's handling of the situation, stating, "Come on. You know, you’re going to partially fund food for Americans? You’re going let people starve?" The USDA, which oversees the SNAP program, has faced scrutiny for its slow response to the funding crisis, with Judge McConnell labeling its actions as "arbitrary and capricious."

As the deadline approaches, the administration is under pressure to comply with the court's order and ensure that SNAP recipients receive the full benefits they depend on for food security this month.