Trump admin asks appeals court to immediately block SNAP distribution order

The Justice Department on Friday filed an emergency request to a federal appeals court, asking it to block a lower court order that would force it to fully pay November's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

 U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. on Thursday directed the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund the program for the month, and accused the administration of not better preparing to fund the food stamp program.

Federal prosecutors accused McConnell's order of being “unprecedented,” and claimed it makes “a mockery of the separation of powers.” 

“This is a crisis, to be sure, but it is a crisis occasioned by congressional failure, and that can only be solved by congressional action,” the Justice Department wrote in its motion, according to The Hill. “Courts are charged with enforcing the law, but the law is explicit that SNAP benefits are subject to available appropriations."

The emergency request asks the 1st Circuit of Appeals to issue a ruling by Friday afternoon, and the court asked the cities and private organizations suing the government over the funding to respond in writing by 12 p.m. Eastern. 

The administration is currently expected to only fund up to 65% of the maximum benefit, per the Associated Press. The program costs more than $8 billion per month nationally and impacts approximately 42 million Americans.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.