Mike Johnson Updates Trump’s View on SNAP Benefits After Court Ruling

House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the media on Monday, expressing President Donald Trump’s urgent need to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This comes after federal judges mandated the use of contingency funds to facilitate these payments.

Impact of Government Shutdown on SNAP

As of November 1, around 42 million Americans did not receive new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for the SNAP program, which typically distributes funds at the start of each month. This lapse is linked to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Judicial Rulings and Administration Response

• Two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must continue funding SNAP benefits.
• In response, the administration confirmed it would partially fund SNAP with $4.65 billion from the contingency fund.

Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of Food Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS), stated that this amount will cover 50% of eligible households’ allotments for November.

The Administration’s Position

Johnson noted that he and Trump had extensively discussed the situation over the weekend. He described the president as “desperate” to ensure that SNAP benefits reach the citizens who rely on them. However, Johnson indicated that the administration faced legal challenges regarding the use of contingency funds.

Future of SNAP Under Current Conditions

After the judges’ ruling, the Trump administration is contemplating how to fund SNAP—either partially or fully for November. Trump communicated via Truth Social that he pushed his legal team to seek clarification from the courts urgently. He emphasized the severe delays caused by the ongoing government shutdown.

Government Shutdown Status

The federal government has remained shut down since October 1. Despite a Republican majority in both houses, bipartisan support is essential to reopen operations. Democrats are advocating for an extension of healthcare tax credits and the restoration of Medicaid cuts, which Republicans have yet to accept.

Statements from Key Figures

• Trump stated, “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the administration, accusing it of depriving children of SNAP benefits while House Republicans remain inactive.

Next Steps for SNAP Beneficiaries

The timeline for receiving SNAP benefits remains uncertain. Some states may take up to two weeks to load the value onto EBT cards, leaving many beneficiaries in a difficult situation for the time being.

This report includes information gathered from various sources. El-Balad will continue to monitor the situation for updates regarding SNAP benefits and the federal government shutdown.