Tovia Smith
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A deal to reopen the government could get full payments flowing almost as quickly, but the SNAP lapse may have longer-term ramifications.
Food pantries say they expect high demand to continue as many SNAP recipients need to restock their cupboards, and some food banks say they expect to be short on stocks since some large food orders they usually get from the government were not processed during the shutdown.
Some SNAP benefits had already landed with recipients when the Trump administration warned states to undo whatever they've done to distribute that money or states would risk financial penalties.
Meantime, Cindy Karkhart, who runs a food bank in West Virginia, says demand has more than tripled and the uncertainty is worsening the pain.
Administration officials did not respond to requests for comment, but Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, speaking to Fox News, accused, quote, activist judges of trying to force funding that Congress declined and blamed Democrats for the lapse in benefits.
Some SNAP benefits had already landed with recipients when the Trump administration warned states to undo whatever they've done to distribute that money or states would risk financial penalties.
Meantime, Cindy Karkhart, who runs a food bank in West Virginia, says demand has more than tripled and the uncertainty is worsening the pain.
Administration officials did not respond to requests for comment, but Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, speaking to Fox News, accused, quote, activist judges of trying to force funding that Congress declined and blamed Democrats for the lapse in benefits.
District Judge John McConnell Jr.
accused the Trump administration of delaying food aid for, quote, political reasons.
He said the president's own social media posts prove his intent to defy a previous order to keep SNAP assistance flowing.
The Trump administration has said benefits would be partially restored, but it could take weeks or months.
Now the judge says additional funding must be tapped to ensure full benefits are restored immediately.
Anti-hunger groups call the decision a major victory, but worry the administration's appeal will mean more delays for needy Americans.
The Trump administration issued a short statement blaming Democrats for the lapse in benefits.