Supporters against food shortages scored a big win. On November 8, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit turned down the Trump team’s request. They wanted to block a lower court’s order for full SNAP benefits in November 2025.
SNAP means Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This cleared the way for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release about $8 billion. It let payments start again from November 1. This helped the program’s 42 million users.
Many had no aid for over a week. But the win did not last long. Hours later, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson put a short pause on the order. This gave the appeals court more time to check the case.
The court fight started on November 1. SNAP benefits, or food stamps, did not load for the first time in 60 years. This came from a shutdown that began in October. Congress failed to pass new funding. The USDA used a $5.3 billion emergency fund for partial payments. That covered about 65% of normal amounts.
But they said they could not use more reserves for full benefits. A group of cities, nonprofits, and states sued. This led Rhode Island Judge John McConnell to order partial payments on November 4. On November 7, he stepped it up to full funding. He blamed the admin for shocking delays that could leave families hungry for months.
The Trump team appealed right away. They asked the 1st Circuit for a quick stop. In a short order, the court said no. It supported McConnell’s rule. This led the USDA to tell states they were working on full November 2025 payments. Deputy Patrick Penn’s memo to directors said funds would soon be ready. This caused states to hurry and process payments.
In New York, 3 million people use SNAP. The court’s support eased worries for families in need. Governor Kathy Hochul said benefits would start again on Sunday, November 10. This followed a week of mess and worry. For Brooklyn teacher Sarah Jimenez, it was a close call.
The single mom of two got meals from food pantries. Her EBT card showed zero on November 1. “I had just one box of cereal left,” she posted online. “I told my kids dinner was rice again.” The post went viral with thousands of shares.
Late Friday, her benefits loaded thanks to the state’s fast move after the ruling. She bought fresh fruits, veggies, and meat. “It’s not just food; it’s dignity,” Jimenez said. Her story hit home with over 5,000 searches for “SNAP court ruling 2025.”
Other states did the same. New Jersey sent full benefits to 800,000 people before the Supreme Court stepped in. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania told agencies to pay out now. Oregon and Kansas started too. Now the high court’s pause adds doubt.
It might force them to take back payments. Groups like the Food Research & Action Center called the appeals win a key step. But they warned of lasting harm. Food shortages are rising in homes hit by the shutdown.
Critics, like Democrats in Congress, said the admin uses hunger as a tool in shutdown talks. Florida AG Pam Bondi fired back. “This is bad judicial overreach,” she said in a statement. She defended the Supreme Court appeal. The 1st Circuit should rule soon on the full case. The pause ends 48 hours after that.
For now, people like Jimenez should check state sites. Use loaded benefits smartly, as take-backs might happen. Families can go to local food banks, call 211, or try WIC for help. This shows how shaky federal aid is in divided times. Watch for Congress to fix the standoff and lock in funding.
