Trump Signals Willingness to Fund SNAP Following Court Ruling

Former President Donald Trump indicated Friday that he is prepared to authorize funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — but only if granted clear legal authority to do so — after a federal judge ordered officials to tap emergency funds to keep the program operational amid the ongoing government shutdown.

With SNAP benefits set to lapse Saturday, millions of low-income Americans risk losing vital food assistance. The Trump administration had previously insisted it could not draw from the program’s emergency reserves without explicit legal permission, a position rooted in guidance from government attorneys, according to reporting from The Hill.

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, emphasizing the legal uncertainty surrounding the issue.

“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” he continued. Trump said he has directed administration lawyers to seek clarification from the courts “as soon as possible” to determine how SNAP can legally be funded under current circumstances.

Even with emergency funding, Trump cautioned that SNAP benefits may still face delays in November. He urged the public to pressure congressional Democrats to end the shutdown, arguing that his administration has already employed creative measures to ensure military service members receive their pay during the funding impasse.

The latest development adds another layer of urgency to the political standoff in Washington, with vulnerable families caught in the middle as both sides debate legal boundaries, executive authority, and responsibility for the shutdown’s widening consequences.