Where to find food assistance, volunteer opportunities in Louisville
Millions of Americans who rely on the SNAP will be without benefits starting Nov. 1 as the federal government shutdown continues.
A federal judge in Rhode Island said he would order the Trump administration to continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, food benefits despite the government shutdown, a ruling which could spell relief for hundreds of thousands of low-income Kentuckians.
A second federal judge in Boston also ruled that the government is “required” to continue providing SNAP benefits.
Nearly 650,000 people received SNAP benefits in Kentucky as of October, according to state data, but a prominent message appearing on the USDA’s official website Oct. 27 announced no benefits would be issued beginning Nov. 1.
But the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, the National Council of Nonprofits and a number of other nonprofits and mayors filed a federal lawsuit to keep benefits flowing.
Justice Department lawyers have argued it isn’t possible to provide partial benefits for the program that spends up to $9 billion per month from a $5 billion contingency fund.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell said at a hearing Oct. 31 he would block the administration from suspending benefits during the shutdown.
“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” McConnell said during a virtual hearing.
In a brief written order, McConnell told the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to keep providing benefits. He asked the government to report by noon Nov. 3 about the status of the distribution.
U.S. Judge Indira Talwani ruled the government has the option to provide reduced benefits with contingency funds or shift other discretionary funds to cover the shortfall.
Talwani held a hearing Oct. 30 in the case filed by Democratic officials from 25 states who urged her to force the use of $5 billion in contingency funding to keep benefits flowing.
Courier Journal reporter Keely Doll contributed. John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
(This story has been updated to add more information.)
