Trump Administration Races Against Deadline to Comply with Judge's Order on SNAP Funding

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Millions of Americans who depend on federal food assistance faced uncertainty this weekend after the program was unexpectedly halted. A crucial deadline looms as they await a resolution.

On Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island mandated the Trump administration to disburse Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits “as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, a separate ruling from a federal judge in Boston suggested that the suspension of these benefits could be “unlawful.”

U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, set a deadline for the administration, requiring them to disclose by noon on Monday how they plan to comply with his order to restore SNAP funding, either fully or partially. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston has demanded the federal government outline its response strategy by the same deadline.

The Trump administration now faces a tight timeframe to reveal their plan for reinstating the crucial food assistance program.

President Donald Trump said the administration is looking to comply, writing on social media Friday that he had “instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund snap as soon as possible.”

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote.

But by Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was hesitant to say if the Department of Agriculture would be able to meet the deadlines.

“There’s a process that has to be followed. So, we got to figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits,” Bessent told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”

“So, it could be done by Wednesday?” Tapper asked.

“Could be,” Bessent replied.

Mid-week is likely the earliest SNAP recipients can expect to see their benefits if the USDA and the states can process them in time.

Nevertheless, the courts have made it clear: no more delays just because of the government shutdown, which could soon become the longest in U.S. history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.