The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an existing order blocking the full distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, prolonging uncertainty for millions of low-income Americans even as Congress moves closer to ending the historic government shutdown.
The decision maintains a chaotic patchwork across the country with some states having distributed full food aid while others have yet to issue payments. The ruling means the status quo will remain in place for several more days while the justices review pending legal challenges.
The impasse stems from the Trump administration’s decision to halt SNAP funding after October, a move that triggered multiple lawsuits and conflicting lower-court rulings over the limits of executive power and the government’s obligation to ensure food access. The program, commonly known as food stamps, supports roughly 42 million Americans about one in eight people nationwide.
The Senate passed a bill Monday to reopen the federal government following the 41-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the measure by Wednesday, with President Donald Trump signaling support.
If the government reopens, SNAP payments could resume, though federal officials have not confirmed how quickly full benefits would be restored to affected households.
