Trump's Threats Hit Snag as States Refuse to Back Down on SNAP Funding Amid Government Shutdown.
The Trump administration's attempt to cut off federal food assistance benefits has hit a snag in the courts. A federal judge ruled that the administration cannot revoke full payments for New York and New Jersey residents who have been receiving their monthly allotments, despite a memo stating they were "unauthorized".
In a confusing move, the Trump administration directed states to issue partial payments of SNAP benefits, reduced by 35%, contradicting its own guidance issued just a day earlier. However, both New York and New Jersey resumed full payments on Friday and Sunday respectively, as beneficiaries typically receive their monthly allotments during the first week of the month.
The ruling comes at a time when the Trump administration is trying to block full funding for SNAP during the ongoing government shutdown. The program provides vital assistance to 3 million New York residents and 800,000 New Jerseyans, helping them afford groceries.
New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the administration's actions, calling it "cruel" and "disgusting". She stated that the move was "all the more galling" given that the federal government may reopen soon. James also expressed frustration over some stores refusing to accept SNAP payments, saying it was a result of the Trump administration's confusion.
The situation has left social services organizations feeling overwhelmed. Robert Cordero, executive director of Grand Street Settlement, noted that food pantries saw a 25% increase in demand after SNAP payments were paused on November 1. He described the situation as "a rolling disaster", with frequent changes and conflicting guidance causing uncertainty among recipients.
The court ruling provides some relief to families who rely on SNAP benefits, ensuring they can continue to receive the assistance they need. However, the ongoing government shutdown remains a pressing issue, highlighting the need for stable funding for vital programs like SNAP.
The Trump administration's attempt to cut off federal food assistance benefits has hit a snag in the courts. A federal judge ruled that the administration cannot revoke full payments for New York and New Jersey residents who have been receiving their monthly allotments, despite a memo stating they were "unauthorized".
In a confusing move, the Trump administration directed states to issue partial payments of SNAP benefits, reduced by 35%, contradicting its own guidance issued just a day earlier. However, both New York and New Jersey resumed full payments on Friday and Sunday respectively, as beneficiaries typically receive their monthly allotments during the first week of the month.
The ruling comes at a time when the Trump administration is trying to block full funding for SNAP during the ongoing government shutdown. The program provides vital assistance to 3 million New York residents and 800,000 New Jerseyans, helping them afford groceries.
New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the administration's actions, calling it "cruel" and "disgusting". She stated that the move was "all the more galling" given that the federal government may reopen soon. James also expressed frustration over some stores refusing to accept SNAP payments, saying it was a result of the Trump administration's confusion.
The situation has left social services organizations feeling overwhelmed. Robert Cordero, executive director of Grand Street Settlement, noted that food pantries saw a 25% increase in demand after SNAP payments were paused on November 1. He described the situation as "a rolling disaster", with frequent changes and conflicting guidance causing uncertainty among recipients.
The court ruling provides some relief to families who rely on SNAP benefits, ensuring they can continue to receive the assistance they need. However, the ongoing government shutdown remains a pressing issue, highlighting the need for stable funding for vital programs like SNAP.
... i mean, the government's gotta make some decisions but threatening people's food supply? that's just cruel 
. and now they're backtracking on their own memo? what even is going on? 
it's like they can't even get their act together.
... but this whole thing has been a nightmare for a lot of people. food pantries in the city have seen a huge increase in demand after snap payments were paused, so yeah that's not helping 
. i just wish they could get their priorities straight and focus on finding a solution to this shutdown instead of playing politics 
.
this is soooo unfair 
3 million people in New York alone are struggling with food insecurity 
and now they're being hit with even more uncertainty 
but at least the courts stepped in 
and gave them a break 
meanwhile, stores are still refusing to accept payments 
it's like they're not listening 
what's going on with these people?!?! 
. I mean, come on, can't they just make up their minds? 
. And what's with the stores refusing to accept SNAP payments? That's not fair at all! 
It's just another example of how this government shutdown is affecting everyday people 
. Maybe if the admin would just communicate clearly once in a while, we wouldn't be dealing with all these drama 
.
. I'm glad that the court ruled in favor of the states and people can get their SNAP benefits again... but at the same time, it's just frustrating because we're still stuck in this mess 
I gotta say, it's crazy how this is going down. Trump thinks he can just dictate what's best for people struggling to make ends meet? Newsflash, dude: we're not going anywhere. The fact that states are refusing to back down on SNAP funding shows some people still have some sense of humanity left in them. And letitia James is totally right, it's just plain cruel to cut off people's food benefits without a plan B. I'm not surprised the social services organizations are feeling overwhelmed, though - this has been a disaster waiting to happen since November 1. 
. And New York and NJ residents are just getting hit with this chaos... 3 million people need help just to afford groceries, and now they're being sent mixed signals 
. I get why the courts intervened, it's just plain cruel 
. Still hoping that gov gets its act together soon 
.
Like, what even is the point of trying to cut off these benefits if they're not going to stick to their own rules? 
This is just a disaster waiting to happen. The fact that social services organizations are overwhelmed because of this is just heartbreaking. We need to get our government back on track and prioritize the people, not some petty agenda. 
What's next, take away our oxygen? 
Not on my watch! 
, but its still crazy that the admin had to pull this whole thing out 
.
. The fact that some stores wont accept SNAP payments is just ridiculous 
.
. But what we can learn from this is that sometimes, even when we disagree on how to solve problems, we should try to find common ground and prioritize the people who are being affected most 
. By working together and staying focused on our shared humanity, we can create a more just and equitable system that serves everyone 
.
. I mean, who needs all this drama and confusion? Can't we just have a simple system where people can focus on gettin' back on their feet? 
it's crazy that the admin is trying to pull the rug from under these families, but at least some states like NY & NJ are standing up for them