A federal appeals court has denied the Trump Administration’s request to pause a judge’s order requiring full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November. The First Circuit Court of Appeals made its decision on Sunday evening, leaving in place a lower court ruling that directed the administration to provide full SNAP payments to states.
The order remains temporarily on hold for 48 hours, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson allowed time for further review. The Department of Agriculture responded by instructing states late Saturday to reverse any actions taken toward issuing full SNAP benefits this month.
According to an internal memo from the department: “The US Supreme Court granted the US Department of Agriculture an administrative stay of the orders issued by the District Court of Rhode Island.” The memo also stated, “Pending any explicit direction to the contrary from Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), States must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors. Instead, States must continue to process and load the partial issuance files that reflect the 35 percent reduction of maximum allotments detailed in the November 5 guidance.”
The department further instructed, “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, States must immediately undo steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.”
On Friday evening, the Supreme Court had temporarily blocked Judge John McConnell’s order requiring that SNAP be fully funded in November. Judge McConnell had earlier ruled that amid what has been called the Schumer Shutdown, funds should be redirected from child nutrition programs to cover SNAP payments.
Justice Jackson issued a temporary stay so that the First Circuit could review McConnell’s ruling. On Sunday night, a three-judge panel—comprised of Judges Rikelman and Gelpi (both appointed by President Biden) and Judge Barron (appointed by President Obama)—denied the Trump Administration’s request for a longer stay.
Josh Gerstein reported on social media: “BREAKING: 1st Circuit denies Trump administration request to stay judge’s order forcing full payment of SNAP for November. Opinion by Rikelman (Biden), Joined by Barron (Obama), Gelpi (Biden). Order remains on hold for 48 hours per Justice Jackson.”
Meanwhile, legislative developments may soon render these court rulings less significant. On Sunday evening, the Senate voted to invoke cloture and move forward with legislation aimed at reopening the government. The Senate adjourned later that night and will reconvene Monday morning; meanwhile, House members are expected back by Wednesday to vote on this legislation before it can go to President Trump.
