Two judges could rule as soon as today on whether President Donald Trump’s administration must replenish SNAP food aid benefits for November despite the government shutdown.
The grocery-buying ability for about 1 in 8 Americans could hinge on the outcomes.
Even if a judge rules the benefits cannot be suspended for the first time in SNAP’s 61-year history, many beneficiaries are likely to face delays in getting the debit cards they use to buy groceries reloaded. That process can take one to two weeks, so it’s likely too late to get funds on cards in the first days of November.
Government lawyers say a contingency fund containing some $5 billion cannot legally be used to maintain SNAP, a program that costs about $8 billion a month. The states say it must be used for that purpose and point to more money available in a second federal account with around $23 billion.
Other news we’re following:
FBI thwarts Halloween weekend attack plot in Michigan: Multiple people who had been allegedly plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend were arrested Friday in Michigan, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post. Patel said more information would be released later. But the law enforcement effort appeared to be in the Detroit area.Senate report details medical neglect in federal immigration detention centers: The investigation has uncovered dozens of credible reports of neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers nationwide — with detainees denied insulin, left without medical attention for days and forced to compete for clean water.Trump wants to end the filibuster: The president called on the Senate to scrap the filibuster so that the GOP can bypass Democrats and reopen the federal government. The filibuster is a long-standing tactic in the Senate to delay or block votes on legislation by keeping the debate running. It requires 60 votes in a full Senate to overcome a filibuster, giving Democrats a check on the 53-seat Republican majority. The government has been closed for 31 days.