The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration’s emergency request to halt a lower court order that required the government to fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments during the ongoing government shutdown.
The unsigned order, issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, pauses the mandate of a federal judge in Rhode Island who earlier this week ordered the administration to deliver full November benefits, using emergency reserves to fill the gap. The justice’s action will remain in place until 48 hours after a federal appeals court rules on whether to impose a longer stay.
Jackson, who handles emergency applications from Massachusetts and other states in the region, acted after the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston declined to immediately intervene. Her order effectively reinstates the administration’s plan to issue partial SNAP payments while the broader funding dispute plays out in court.
The Trump administration has maintained that Congress must appropriate new funding for the program, arguing that courts cannot compel the executive branch to spend money not appropriated by the legislative branch.
“The president is committed to reopening the government as soon as Democrats agree to extend funding,” a White House spokesperson said.
The Supreme Court’s intervention marks the latest twist in a fast-moving legal battle over how to sustain the nation’s largest food assistance program during what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. SNAP, which supports roughly 42 million Americans — or one in eight residents — had already run out of full federal funding when the shutdown entered its 35th day this week.
Officials in several states said they had already rushed to distribute benefits after the lower court’s ruling on Thursday, hoping to send full payments before a higher court could reverse the order.
In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said more than $104 million in food assistance was released to 337,000 households at midnight. “We wanted to make sure families didn’t miss a meal,” a state spokesperson said.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said state employees “worked through the night” to issue benefits to all eligible households by Friday morning. In Hawaii, officials said they moved “with haste” to process full payments before the Supreme Court could act.
But those rapid distributions drew sharp criticism from the administration, which accused the states of depleting limited federal reserves before courts had fully reviewed the issue.
“Once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in the government’s emergency appeal.
Sauer argued that the lower court’s injunction “makes a mockery of the separation of powers,” saying Congress — not the judiciary — controls appropriations. The administration insists that without congressional action, only partial payments can be made from the $4.65 billion contingency fund available to the Department of Agriculture.
The dispute stems from an order issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who ruled that the Trump administration could not reduce SNAP benefits to 65% of their usual amount, as planned. McConnell said the government must use all available resources, including unspent child nutrition funds, to pay full benefits to recipients this month.
In his ruling, McConnell rejected the administration’s argument that the court lacked authority to direct spending decisions, calling his injunction necessary to “prevent irreparable harm to millions of Americans who depend on this assistance to eat.”
The Supreme Court’s temporary freeze means that states that have not yet processed full SNAP payments must halt distribution until further notice. Those that have already disbursed benefits — including California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Kansas, and New Jersey — will not be required to claw back funds, but further rounds of payments may be delayed.
SNAP benefits provide up to $300 per month for individuals and about $1,000 for a family of four, though the average household receives less, depending on income. With many households already struggling amid the shutdown, food banks and nonprofit organizations have reported surging demand.
The appeals court is expected to act early next week.
Adam Lambert belongs to a rare class of vocalists who seamlessly blend technical precision with profound emotion. He never indulges in excessive vocal flourishes; instead, every high note and delicate run is purposefully placed to enhance the song’s narrative. His recent performance of I Don’t Care Much on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was a testament to this artistry—a masterclass in control, proving that true vocal power lies not in sheer volume but in nuance and intention. His hauntingly beautiful rendition captivated the audience, showcasing his unparalleled ability to evoke raw emotion with subtlety and finesse.
Despite his extraordinary talent, Adam remains one of the industry’s most underappreciated voices, often overlooked in favor of less versatile performers. However, following this breathtaking performance, social media buzzed with admiration, with fans and critics alike calling it one of the year’s most spellbinding live vocal moments. Many praised his impeccable phrasing and theatrical sensitivity, which infused the song with newfound depth and resonance. Once again, Adam Lambert reminded the world that his voice is not just impressive—it’s timeless, effortless, and profoundly moving.
The only way to help make this world a better place is to teach our children sympathy. When we care for one another, everything seems to fall into place.
Six siblings from New York, one 10-year-old, two twins, and a set of triplets, experienced the loss of a very close friend of theirs. The boy who died was battling cancer for some time, but sadly, lost the battle. While he was going through chemo treatments, his hair fell off. This made the siblings extremely sad. Their hearts were crushed when they learned their buddy passed away, so in his honor, they all decided to let their hair grow long so that they could donate it to others who are diagnosed with cancer just like their late friend.
They decided not to tell anyone about their plan. Not even their mom knew why they all refused to have their hair cut.
Sadly, as their hair grew longer and longer with each passing month, the teasing from their classmates became more and more frequent.
The siblings were called names and many told them that they resembled girls. But they didn’t care much because they knew they had a purpose and were determined to reach the goal they had in mind.
Finally, when the time came for them to donate their hair, they collected a combined 17 feet of hair. Impressive, isn’t it?
We are glad that such young children can be so loving and caring.
For more on their story go to the video below and make sure you SHARE it with your family and friends on Facebook.