A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday to use emergency funds to distribute SNAP benefits frozen by the government shutdown.
Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. granted a temporary restraining order in a case that pitted a group of Rhode Island nonprofits, several cities across the country and a major labor union against the federal government.
Trump administration officials said earlier this week that, due to the shutdown, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, will be cut off on Saturday. The plaintiffs argued that is causing havoc and financial harm to the work they do.
In his Friday order, McConnell said the Trump administration “must distribute” aid from emergency reserves as soon as possible to keep SNAP benefits flowing. From the federal bench in Providence, by way of a Zoom videoconference, he ordered the administration to submit a report on compliance, or “at least an update,” by noon on Monday.
Cortney Nicolato, CEO of the United Way of Rhode Island, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said her organization’s helpline has received more calls about food aid this month than in a typical span of a year. She said United Way of Rhode Island has shifted its priorities and “completely rejiggered” its grantmaking process to prioritize organizations providing food aid.
“Our job at United Way is to protect and serve and meet the most basic needs of Rhode Island families and SNAP is just that,” Nicolato said.
The nonprofits filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Providence. The plaintiffs include the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, the Milagros Project, the East Bay Community Action Program, and the cities of Providence, Woonsocket and Central Falls. The National Council of Nonprofits and the Service Employees International Union also are parties to the lawsuit.
The nonprofits say just the fear that SNAP payments won’t be coming on Saturday has left them inundated with people looking for help. In court filings, they say that has forced them to divert resources from other parts of their missions to provide food aid.
Kimberly Fernandez, executive director of the Federal Hill House, a social service organization in Providence, said she has had to shift her family support team to working in the food pantry.
“Normally they might be going to our playgroups, they might be coming to our Early Learning Center and meeting parents. They might be spending time in the afterschool program. And we just need them on the ground right now to literally check-in pantry guests and hand out food.”
If SNAP benefits aren’t funded this weekend, Fernandez said she expects even more demand at the food pantry next week.
Some 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits on a monthly basis, including more than 140,000 Rhode Islanders and 1.1 million people in Massachusetts. Rhode Island receives about $29 million a month to run its program.
It’s not yet clear if the Justice Department plans to appeal, or when food aid might be restarted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Click here to read earlier coverage of the case.
