A federal judge in Rhode Island on Friday praised President Donald Trump’s “quick and definitive response” to a ruling concerning Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, saying the president’s action was “greatly appreciated.”
“The court greatly appreciates the president’s quick and definitive response to this court’s order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding,” U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. wrote in a court order on Saturday.
Roughly 42 million Americans—about one in eight—depend on food stamps each month, using electronic benefit cards to buy groceries. Advocates warned that any delay or reduction in payments could have severe consequences for families who rely on the program to meet basic needs.
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McConnell, an Obama appointee, ordered the USDA to guarantee that full SNAP benefits for November are delivered to recipients by the end of Monday, November 3, or that partial payments be issued no later than Wednesday, November 5.
“There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” the judge claimed, though Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the law is clear – contintency funds can only be used when the program is fully funded and only in natural disasters.
“In fact, the president during his first term issued guidance indicating that these contingency funds are available if SNAP funds lapse due to a government shutdown,” McConnell added.
Funding ran out Nov. 1 thanks to the Democrat-led government shutdown. It’s not clear whether the administration will appeal or seek clarification from the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Meanwhile, in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, ruled that the USDA must continue issuing SNAP payments, calling the suspension of the program “unlawful.”
Pollster Matt Towery, meanwhile, said Friday on Fox News that Democrats’ attempt to spark outrage over interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is beginning to backfire.
As the government shutdown continues, Democrats are still blocking a temporary funding measure — a move that’s now threatening food aid for more than 40 million Americans.
Appearing on “The Ingraham Angle,” Towery argued that Democrats badly misjudged public reaction by trying to weaponize the program’s funding lapse for political gain.
“I think the public is just now beginning to hear the information about how many people who are receiving food stamps, who simply are not from this country and came into the country illegally. And I think as more of this information comes out, you’ll see more resentment for that aspect,” Towery told host Laura Ingraham.
“Now there’s always been a sympathy among voters for the social safety net. And I just want to add one thing about what the Democrats were doing.”
Towery said Democrats’ plan to use the food stamp disruption to fuel public anger may have the opposite effect of what was intended.
“I don’t know that these decisions by these judges are helping them because the Democrats really wanted people to not get this assistance and be up in arms and very upset, and cause more turmoil over the next week,” Towery added.
“And these judges have stepped in and said, ‘Oh well, we think we’re going to feed you. How we’re going to do it. I don’t quite know.’ I do think that we’re seeing a change in public opinion towards all of these benefits,” he added.
Towery noted that a subtle political realignment is taking place. He added that younger Americans entering the workforce are beginning to rethink their views on government assistance programs.
“There’s a slow shift. You won’t see it from the legacy pollsters, and you won’t hear from the legacy media. But the country is beginning to shift. And I think it starts with the youngest of voters, the ones who are having to get out there and make money and find jobs,” Towery said.
