Ag Policy Blog

As the country rapidly approaches the one holiday dedicated to the country's food bounty and gratitude, the Trump administration, federal courts and Congress remain essentially in a "you-blink-first" standoff over whether 42 million people will receive their monthly food aid.

A U.S. District Judge in Rhode Island on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to pay the full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November after USDA had said the department could only pay about 65% of the benefits owed.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge John McConnell was the latest twist in the government shutdown and its impact on food aid to nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP.

McConnell ordered the Trump administration to pay the full benefits by Friday. But he had earlier also ordered the administration to make at least partial payments by Wednesday. That didn't happen.

The administration is now reportedly appealing McConnell's latest ruling.

USDA had proposed half of the benefits be paid, then raised the figure to as much as 65%. But state agencies raised concerns about the delays in getting benefits out to people under that scenario.

President Donald Trump has weighed in multiple times on social media over the past week -- first saying he wanted to pay SNAP benefits and his administration would seek more clarity from the courts. By Tuesday, Trump had shifted his tone, criticizing SNAP spending under the Biden administration and posting that benefits "will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up the government, which they can easily do, and not before!"

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt then walked back Trump's comment, saying the administration would comply with the court order -- though she added, "The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand, it's going to take some time to receive this money, because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position."

Members of Congress from both parties have turned it into a social media debate by showing themselves at their local human services office and blaming the other party for the shutdown and freeze in SNAP benefits. In the House, the two sides aren't talking directly -- but they are sniping at each other on X.

And without connecting the dots of food aid and the ability to buy food, the White House on Thursday spotlighted an analysis by Wells Fargo showing that the average Thanksgiving dinner will be 2% to 3% cheaper this year. Retailers such as Walmart and Aldi also posted cheaper holiday dinners, especially if people choose store brands.

In a column Thursday in the National Journal, DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom noted how President Trump now dictates policy when it comes to food, agriculture and trade, primarily through his comments and social media posts.

"In the last week alone, President Trump's statements on food stamps, soybeans, Argentine beef, and trade have mattered much more than any departmental policy. But Trump's statements have also opened the window for criticism." Hagstrom wrote.

When McConnell handed down his ruling on Thursday, he pointed to Trump's comments on SNAP as evidence the administration is disrupting the program "for political reasons," the Washington Post reported.

"This should never happen in America," McConnell said, according to the Post.

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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