By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 07 November 2025 08:43 AM EST
The Trump administration swiftly filed an appeal against a federal court ruling mandating full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to recipients during the ongoing government shutdown. The decision followed a Thursday order from U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, which required the administration to secure funds for November’s SNAP benefits despite congressional gridlock.
Judge McConnell criticized the administration’s initial plan to cover only 65% of November’s payments, stating it failed to account for the “practical consequences” of reduced support for low-income families. The ruling came after earlier court directives compelled the use of USDA emergency reserves to maintain SNAP operations during the shutdown.
Administration officials argued the judge overstepped by dictating fiscal priorities, asserting that courts should not interfere with executive decisions during a funding lapse. Vice President JD Vance condemned the ruling as “an absurd decision,” accusing the judiciary of improperly influencing presidential actions amid a Democratic-led government shutdown.
Vance emphasized the administration’s stance that full SNAP funding would resume once Congress agrees to reopen the government, but he defended fiscal triage as necessary during the impasse. The dispute underscores broader tensions between the executive and judicial branches over constitutional authority and responsibility for the historic shutdown.
The government shutdown has now lasted five weeks, with the SNAP controversy highlighting conflicts over emergency spending and governance priorities.
