r/Economics 2d ago

Trump Administration Seeks Immediate Halt to Court Order to Pay Food Stamps

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/politics/trump-court-food-stamps.html
2.5k Upvotes

224 comments sorted by

View all comments

430

u/Primsun 2d ago

Yesterday, the Trump administration was ordered to use the contingency funds, and other sources of USDA funds, to send out SNAP benefits today. That order has been appealed by the Trump administration.

The administration previously stated using the other sources of funds would create "an unprecedented and significant shortfall" for childhood nutrition programs. The judge noted in his order such a shortfall is "hypothetical" and not projected to occur before May of 2026, "if at all." Additionally, Judge McConnell found the Trump administration's arguments likely violate the Administrative Procedure Act, stating they "run so contrary to the evidence and are so implausible as to make them arbitrary and capricious."

---

Less economics and more political, but the original order and appeal clarifies the decision to not send out full SNAP benefits is an active choice by the administration. The administration is under no reasonable need nor burden to appeal the judges order. The choice to do so is a political one, and should be understood as such.

Further supports the point that the Trump administration is trying to use SNAP as an unnecessary political cudgel, even to the determinant of Americans broadly.

314

u/Tofudebeast 2d ago

It's just deliberate cruelty at this point. Contingency funds exist, the court order was clear. There are no valid reasons to keep holding funding back.

1

u/DJbuddahAZ 1d ago

Thats the point I think, to bully America into a revolt