• Trump administration demands states reverse November SNAP benefits already distributed to recipients
• USDA threatens financial penalties for states that issued unauthorized full payments
• Supreme Court temporarily paused order requiring administration to fund program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The Trump administration has ordered U.S. states that already began issuing November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to immediately reverse the payments, threatening severe financial penalties for non-compliance. The directive came Saturday despite more than half a dozen states confirming recipients already received full November payments on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance on Saturday declaring the November payments unauthorized and demanding states undo the distributions. The agency warned that failure to comply could result in the cancellation of the federal share of state administrative costs and holding states financially accountable for any overissuances.

Supreme Court ruling shifts program into limbo

Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote in the Saturday memo that states must not transmit full benefit issuance files to electronic benefit transfer processors. The directive reverses Friday guidance from the same official that told states to authorize full payments for SNAP, consistent with a Thursday federal court ruling in Rhode Island.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday evening temporarily paused a lower court order requiring the administration to cover full food stamp benefits, siding with the administration on a short-term basis in a legal fight that has quickly become a defining confrontation of the government shutdown. The ruling meant the USDA does not have to immediately honor the lower court order that required it to transfer $4 billion to the key food assistance program.

States scramble amid conflicting directives

The chaotic few days have left state administrators scrambling to determine next steps. Wisconsin, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were among states that moved quickly to issue full benefits on Friday after receiving USDA guidance to do so.

Tony Evers, Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, responded Sunday to the USDA’s demand by simply saying “no.” The state loaded November benefits onto the cards of nearly 700,000 residents on Friday prior to the Supreme Court’s pause. Kansas issued full benefits worth nearly $32 million to approximately 86,000 households in the state.

Governors vow legal fight

Maura Healey, Massachusetts’ Democratic governor, said Sunday that SNAP recipients in her state should continue spending their funds and threatened to sue the Trump administration. She stated benefits were processed in accordance with guidance received from the administration and a lower court order before Friday night’s Supreme Court ruling.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said her state will not comply with the reversal demand. “I am disgusted that President Donald Trump has the audacity to take taxpayers’ money away from them when they are in crisis,” Kotek said in a statement. “This is ridiculous, immoral, and Oregon will fight this every step of the way.”

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein urged swift resolution by the courts and “some humanity from the Trump administration so North Carolina families can receive the support they need.”

Federal shutdown drives crisis

Nearly 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits for help buying groceries. Most have incomes below the poverty line, which is about $32,000 for a family of four. An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000.

The ongoing government shutdown that began Oct. 1 has stretched into its sixth week. The delay in payments has led to a surge in demand at food banks and pantries across the country, as well as long lines for free meals or drive-through giveaways. Some states have provided emergency funding to food banks to help them respond to the increased need.

U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the department last week to use sources outside its contingency fund to make full November payments, strongly rebuking the administration for ignoring his original order to restart payments to recipients who include 16 million children at risk of going hungry.

Should states be held financially liable for following federal court orders that are later reversed?

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10