COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from withholding funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown.
Two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must to continue to fund SNAP, the nation’s biggest food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown.
Columbus joined several others in a lawsuit arguing that halting the program was unlawful. Watch previous coverage in the player above.
List: Where central Ohioans can get food support if SNAP benefits run out"This decision is a lifeline for Columbus children, families, seniors, veterans and all those whose lives would have ben upended had their food security been ripped away from them in the next 24 hours," Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a statement.
The administration said it wasn’t allowed to use a contingency fund with about $5 billion in it for the program, which reversed a USDA plan from before the shutdown that said money would be tapped to keep SNAP running. The Democratic officials argued that not only could that money be used, it must be. They also said a separate fund with around $23 billion is available for the cause.
A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled from the bench that the program must be funded using at least the contingency funds – and asked for an update on progress by Monday.
A Massachusetts-based judge also gave the administration until Monday to say whether it would partially pay for the benefits for November with contingency money or fund them fully with additional funds
It wasn’t immediately clear how quickly the debit cards that beneficiaries use to buy groceries could be reloaded after the ruling. That process often takes one to two weeks.
The rulings are likely to face appeals.
"While we continue to call on Congress to get a deal done to reopen the government, we cannot allow the Trump administration to let people go hungry when there are funds available to them to mee this dire need in Columbus and across the country," Klein said.
Columbus City Council approved $25,000 in emergency funding to support the Mid-Ohio Food Collective in the wake of a potential lapse in benefits. Gov. Mike DeWine also announced Thursday that Ohio would be providing $25 million in food assistance for those who are most in need.
In statements to NBC4 on Friday, both DeWine's office and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said it was too soon to comment on the ruling.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hence then, the article about judge halts trump admin from withholding snap funding during shutdown was published today ( ) and is available on NBC4 ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Judge halts Trump admin from withholding SNAP funding during shutdown )
Also on site :
- The 2025 Billboard K-Pop Artist 100
- ‘It’s all because of Putin’: RT drops Christmas song spoof (AI VIDEO)
- My Husband Revealed the Real Reason Why He Doesn’t Touch Me. I’m Horrified.