SNAP benefits in New York State and across the country will continue through November after a federal judge ruled that the U.S. government must tap into emergency funds to keep food assistance flowing during the ongoing shutdown.
The ruling comes after a coalition of 26 attorneys general and governors challenged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The court found that the USDA’s plan was likely unlawful and ordered the administration to use its congressionally approved contingency funds to avoid disrupting food aid to millions of low-income Americans.
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argued that the USDA had more than enough funding available to maintain SNAP operations even during a lapse in federal appropriations. The court agreed, stating that the federal government is required by law to use whatever resources are available—including the so-called “rainy day” fund—before cutting off food assistance.
“Millions of families rely on SNAP — or food stamps — to survive,” James said in a statement. “The federal government cannot simply walk away from its obligation to feed the people it serves.”
Though the judge did not formally grant the emergency restraining order requested, the court issued a directive requiring the federal government to report back by Monday, November 3, with a plan to fund SNAP for the month.
In a separate but related ruling, a federal court in Rhode Island also issued a nationwide order requiring SNAP benefits to be restored immediately.
The decision is a major victory for states like New York, where millions depend on food assistance. Attorneys general from across the country warned that halting benefits would have created a crisis for vulnerable communities already dealing with the economic fallout from the shutdown.
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