Trump's week in review: SNAP suspension; meeting with Xi; refugee ceiling cut to record low

3. USDA ordered to continue funding SNAP benefits amid shutdown

The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a notice on its website this week announcing that "the well" for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program "has run dry." The agency noted that 42 million food stamp recipients would not receive their benefits if the government were not reopened by Nov. 1. 

However, Judge John McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Friday ordered the release of $5.25 billion in emergency reserves to at least partially fund the SNAP program.

The total cost of providing SNAP benefits to all recipients in November is $9 billion. 

Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts stated in a written order that the U.S. Congress previously appropriated $6 billion to SNAP "to be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations" through Sept. 30, 2026.

Talwani's order stopped short of ordering the Trump administration to release the reserves and instead instructed the USDA to inform the court by Monday whether it planned to provide reduced SNAP benefits. 

Reports suggest that some are already facing a lapse in benefits, which could take weeks to resume.

"I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible ... even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out," President Donald Trump posted on social media Friday evening. "If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding."