A federal judge in Rhode Island said he would order the Trump administration to continue providing SNAP food benefits despite the government shutdown, a ruling that could spell relief for hundreds of thousands of low-income Hoosiers in Indiana.
Roughly 586,000 Hoosiers were enrolled in the food stamp program as of May, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data, but a prominent message appearing on the USDA's official website Oct. 27 announced no benefits would be issued beginning Nov. 1.
But the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, the National Council of Nonprofits and a number of other nonprofit organizations and city mayors filed a federal lawsuit to keep benefits flowing.
Justice Department lawyers have argued it isn't possible to provide partial benefits for the program that spends up to $9 billion per month. The contingency fund only has $5 billion, they said.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell said at a hearing Oct. 31 he would block the administration from suspending benefits during the shutdown.
"There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn't already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food for their family," McConnell said during a virtual hearing.
In a brief written order, McConnell told the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to keep providing benefits. He asked the government to report by noon Nov. 3 about the status of the distribution.
"For now, these families can continue putting food on their tables, and thousands of nonprofit food banks, pantries and other organizations across the country can avoid the impossible burden that would have resulted if SNAP benefits had been halted," said Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.
A second federal judge in Boston ruled that the government is "required" to continue providing SNAP benefits, but that she would give officials until Nov. 3 to decide how to do so.
U.S. Judge Indira Talwani ruled the government has the option to provide reduced benefits with contingency funds or shift other discretionary funds to cover the shortfall.
Talwani held a hearing Oct. 30 in her case from Democratic officials from 25 states who urged her to force the use of $5 billion in contingency funding to keep benefits flowing.