Washington — The Justice Department has turned to the Supreme Court, requesting an immediate pause on a recent lower court order mandating the Trump administration to provide full federal food benefits to about 42 million Americans. This move follows a federal appeals court’s decision, which left the original order intact, and comes amid pressing concerns due to the ongoing government shutdown.

If the Supreme Court does not intervene swiftly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will need to make provisions to disburse the complete payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by the end of the day. The administration has previously indicated that it has already depleted its contingency reserve fund, which amounted to more than $5 billion and was intended for partial food assistance.

Earlier on Friday, the 1st Circuit Court denied the administration’s plea for a temporary stay of the ruling while it considers a longer-term appeal. Following this setback, the administration quickly filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued in the appeal that the lower court effectively assumed control of federal funds, undermining Congress’s authority over budgetary matters.

An official from the USDA informed states on the same day that efforts were underway to comply with the district court’s directive to fully fund the November SNAP benefits for eligible recipients. This legal battle arises from a lawsuit initiated by a coalition of cities and nonprofit organizations, which highlighted imminent food insecurity due to the government shutdown affecting the disbursement of SNAP benefits.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell, who is presiding over the case in Rhode Island, had previously ordered the administration to utilize contingency funds to provide food aid. However, the administration later revealed that it could only allocate enough reserve money for reduced payments. While the USDA began preparing states to calculate these diminished benefits, uncertainty loomed about when recipients would receive their funds.

The plaintiffs have since pushed for swift enforcement, seeking a court order for the Trump administration to ensure full SNAP payments without delay. In his ruling, McConnell criticized the government’s hesitance as compromising the intent of his order to expedite food assistance.

In response to a public statement from President Trump that suggested benefits would only resume when the government reopens, the administration faced scrutiny over its commitment to follow through with the court’s order. Although the White House reiterated its compliance, McConnell argued that the administration’s inaction appeared politically motivated.

The Justice Department’s emergency appeal asserts that the ruling compromises the separation of powers and mandates unreasonable financial actions from the USDA, which they claim jeopardizes other critical programs, particularly those providing children’s nutrition assistance.

As the situation further unfolds, the department’s lawyers expressed concerns that immediate compliance with the court’s directive could lead to severe financial complications for various social programs. Meanwhile, advocates for affected individuals have urged the appeals court not to allow further delays, emphasizing the urgent need for essential food assistance amid rising costs and economic distress.