"Some Americans are beginning to see this month's SNAP food benefits restored. The Trump administration says it's sending states money to fully fund them even as it appeals a new court order to pay for them. U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. ordered the government to restart the country's largest anti-hunger program by Friday. Shortly after that decision Thursday afternoon, a growing number of states started to announce they would be issuing full SNAP benefits."
"Some people woke up today with the money already on the debit-like EBT cards they use to buy groceries. Trump administration officials on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in its bid to block the release of SNAP payments for the millions of Americans in need of food assistance. The move came after an appeals court earlier on Friday rejected a request from the government to halt orders requiring them to issue SNAP payments."
"In his order, Judge McConnell admonished the government for deciding earlier in the week to make only partial SNAP payments. He said officials failed to consider the "needless suffering" that would cause millions of people who rely on that aid. He also suggested they had delayed the partial payments for "political reasons." The administration had said it did not have enough emergency funds to cover full payments because of the ongoing federal shutdown."
Federal court ordered the restart of SNAP benefits by Friday, prompting several states to announce issuance of full monthly payments. The administration says it is sending states money to fully fund the benefits while appealing the order and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. An appeals court earlier denied the government's request to halt orders to issue payments. Funding had run out a week earlier amid the federal shutdown, leaving states, cities and food banks scrambling. Nearly 42 million people rely on SNAP. The judge criticized partial payments and suggested political motives; officials say Congress must provide more funding and object to shifting funds.
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