Funding SNAP during Schumer Shutdown

Trump vows to ‘fund SNAP as soon as possible’ if court allows, blasts Democrats over shutdown delay

President asks courts to clarify legal authority for food stamp funding as government shutdown continues

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration has asked federal courts to clarify whether it can legally release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments as the government shutdown continues.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said government lawyers had raised doubts about whether existing funds could be used for the November distribution and that two courts have issued conflicting opinions on the matter.

"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. "I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT."

The president said he had instructed administration attorneys to ask the courts for clarification "as soon as possible."