Topline
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended a pause on an order requesting the Trump administration pay full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the month of November, delaying payouts for tens of millions of Americans as an end to the government shutdown that sparked the food stamp suspension nears.
The order was extended Tuesday. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The Supreme Court extended a block against multiple lower court rulings that said the Trump administration should immediately pay out SNAP benefits, meaning Americans on food stamps may not receive food stamps until the government shutdown ends.
The House is expected to vote on a government funding bill Wednesday, sending it to Trump for a final approval that would end the shutdown.
The Trump administration argued full payment of food stamps could potentially disrupt the government funding deal passed by the Senate on Monday, when eight Democrats voted alongside Republicans to send the legislation to the House.
The Supreme Court should “let the political process that is rapidly playing out reach its conclusion,” the administration wrote in its argument.
Big Number
$4 billion. That is how much money in food aid is being paused by the Supreme Court order. That aid would work for partial food stamp payments, as the SNAP program typically costs the government around $8 billion to $9 billion per month.