By Newsmax Wires | Thursday, 06 November 2025 09:05 PM EST
President Donald Trump stated Thursday that the United States must maintain financial flexibility to address unforeseen crises, reacting to a court ruling compelling his administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by Friday.
“We need to remain very liquid because problems—catastrophes, wars, could be anything,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We can’t give everything away based on a number.”
A federal judge ordered earlier Thursday that the administration must fully fund SNAP benefits for 42 million low-income Americans in November, rejecting the White House’s prior plan to issue only partial payments. The court ruled the administration’s approach of using $4.65 billion in contingency reserves—covering roughly half the typical monthly outlay—was arbitrary and risked “irreparable harm” to beneficiaries. It mandated a full-funding plan by week’s end.
Administration lawyers argued they lacked legal authority to access broader emergency funds, warning that states could face weeks of delays adjusting systems to distribute full benefits. The White House now has until Friday to detail how it will comply with the ruling and restore full food aid payments.
