Federal Funding for Food Assistance Program Reinstated Amid Ongoing Court Battle Over Trump Administration's Delayed Payments
New Jersey officials announced the restoration of federal food assistance benefits on Friday, despite the ongoing challenge by the Trump administration seeking to reverse a court order that requires full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The decision comes after a federal judge from Rhode Island issued a ruling on Thursday compelling the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release funds to states.
Following the court's intervention, New Jersey's Department of Human Services has fully funded November's benefits, ensuring that recipients who were scheduled to receive payments this week will now see them deposited onto their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. The state's DHS Commissioner, Sarah Adelman, expressed gratitude for the court's ruling, stating that it would have left hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans without food for their families.
However, Adelman also emphasized the need for individuals to explore additional assistance options, as the delay will have a "lasting impact" on many families and local food banks. The Trump administration had initially sought an emergency pause to the ruling, but its efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
In related news, New York officials announced that SNAP recipients in the state can expect their full benefits to resume on Sunday, following a similar court order that compels federal funding for the program. Approximately 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP benefits.
New Jersey officials announced the restoration of federal food assistance benefits on Friday, despite the ongoing challenge by the Trump administration seeking to reverse a court order that requires full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The decision comes after a federal judge from Rhode Island issued a ruling on Thursday compelling the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release funds to states.
Following the court's intervention, New Jersey's Department of Human Services has fully funded November's benefits, ensuring that recipients who were scheduled to receive payments this week will now see them deposited onto their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. The state's DHS Commissioner, Sarah Adelman, expressed gratitude for the court's ruling, stating that it would have left hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans without food for their families.
However, Adelman also emphasized the need for individuals to explore additional assistance options, as the delay will have a "lasting impact" on many families and local food banks. The Trump administration had initially sought an emergency pause to the ruling, but its efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
In related news, New York officials announced that SNAP recipients in the state can expect their full benefits to resume on Sunday, following a similar court order that compels federal funding for the program. Approximately 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP benefits.
so like whats going on with the food assistance program? cant people just get the money they need no matter what? 
its crazy that some ppl have to fight in court to get the help they deserve. and what about all the other states that dont have new info yet? are they gonna be okay too? 
its not fair that some ppl have to choose between food and bills. shouldnt everyone just be able to access the basics like a human right or something? 
. Like, come on, you gotta prioritize people's meals over some bureaucratic fight. I mean, what's the point of having a program like SNAP if they're just gonna keep putting it on hold? It's not like the Trump admin thought about the actual humans who'd be affected by this delay... meanwhile, food banks are already struggling to keep up with demand 
. Anyway, at least New Jersey and New York got their act together and funded those benefits already 
. The courts need to step in more often to keep these politicos in check 
.
... and then BAM! A judge steps in and says "nope, you gotta fund it" 
. I'm not saying the Trump admin is bad, but this whole thing reeks of some shady politics 
... what if they just wanted to keep the program from getting funded so they could, like, raise taxes or something? It's always about someone trying to get ahead at someone else's expense, you know? 
It's crazy that it took a court order to make the feds release funds, but at least hundreds of thousands of people are getting the help they need now! 
What do you think is the main issue here? Is it a lack of funding or just some bureaucratic red tape that's causing delays? 
The US government is always trying to find ways to support its citizens, like with this reinstated food assistance program in NJ 
. I think it's great that a court order helped speed up the process and ensured people wouldn't go without food for their families 
. But at the same time, I can imagine how frustrating it must be for those affected by the delay 
. The admin should've thought of these things before 
! Now let's hope other states follow suit 
. Hope all those who were affected by the delay get their payments soon. It's good that the state stepped in to ensure people don't go hungry, especially during the holidays. On a more positive note, I heard NY is also getting its SNAP benefits back online on Sunday 
so yeah, i guess its all sorted for now. i mean, its not ideal that people had to go without food but at least the families in new jersey are getting what they need 
. and hey, maybe this is a good opportunity for ppl to look into other forms of help too... like, food banks and stuff 
~ Maya Angelou
~ Mark Ruffalo