US judges say Trump administration must continue food aid during US shutdown

Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have ruled that the Trump administration must continue providing food aid through SNAP to more than 40 million low-income Americans during the US government shutdown. The administration had initially suspended food assistance funds due to the shutdown, but the judges mandated using emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. States had sued the administration over the plan to halt funding, with the Massachusetts judge highlighting that Congress intended funding for SNAP benefits even during funding shortages, and insisting that the government access contingency funds for this essential program.