The U.S. Supreme Court has extended its pause on a lower court order that required the Trump administration to restore full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. The move temporarily allows the government to continue withholding around $4 billion in food aid, leaving millions of low-income Americans uncertain about their benefits.
The pause will remain in place until Thursday, while Congress continues negotiations to end the ongoing federal government shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision, saying she would have allowed the lower court order to take effect immediately to protect struggling families.
The funding delay has deepened the impact of the government shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history. SNAP benefits expired at the start of November for the first time in the program’s six-decade history, forcing families to rely on food banks and community aid to meet basic needs.
Many beneficiaries have reported skipping meals or cutting back on other essentials such as medication. The situation has put growing pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal and resume the normal operations of government services.
On Monday, the U.S. Senate approved a compromise bill to reopen the government and restore funding for essential programs, including SNAP. If approved by the House and signed into law, the bill would immediately restart food aid for millions of Americans who depend on it for daily sustenance.
The Supreme Court’s temporary decision adds another layer of uncertainty, as families wait for both judicial and legislative actions to determine when their food assistance will return.
