Fri Oct 31 21:50:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
On October 31, 2025, a federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from suspending SNAP (food stamp) benefits for millions of Americans amid the ongoing government shutdown. The judge sided with cities, nonprofits, and a union that argued the suspension was unlawful, directing the USDA to use contingency funds to continue payments. This ruling came shortly after a similar decision in Boston regarding a related case. The USDA claimed insufficient funds due to the shutdown, while plaintiffs argued that billions in contingency funds were available to prevent the suspension.
News Article:
Judge Blocks SNAP Suspension, Orders Use of Contingency Funds Amid Shutdown
Providence, Rhode Island – November 1, 2025 – A federal judge in Rhode Island halted the Trump administration’s plan to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans on Friday, October 31st. U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from suspending the vital food assistance program beginning Saturday.
The ruling, made at the request of cities, nonprofits, and a union, comes amidst a government shutdown that began October 1st. The plaintiffs argued the USDA’s decision to suspend SNAP benefits was unlawful, citing the availability of billions of dollars in contingency funds specifically designated for program operations. The USDA had claimed that it lacked the authority and sufficient funds to pay the approximately 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP, costing an estimated $8.5 to $9 billion per month, until Congress approves a spending bill to end the shutdown.
“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” said Justice McConnell during a virtual hearing.
The ruling mandates the USDA to utilize contingency funds, including a $5.25 billion Congressional allocation, to ensure SNAP benefits continue uninterrupted. The order comes on the heels of a similar ruling in Boston, where a judge also deemed the suspension likely unlawful in a parallel case brought by a coalition of Democratic-led states. The case was brought by Democracy Forward, a left leaning advocacy group. The resolution offers a temporary reprieve for millions of low-income Americans facing food insecurity during the ongoing government shutdown.
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