The Trump administration is now pushing states to reverse the full SNAP food benefits distributed following court orders after the U.S. Supreme Court halted those rulings. This action is the latest twist in the ongoing legal battle over the anti-hunger program utilized by 42 million Americans.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s demand comes amid concerns from over two dozen states about potential operational disruptions if they are not reimbursed for the SNAP benefits they approved before the Supreme Court’s intervention. Non-profits and Democratic attorneys general had sued the administration in November to maintain the program, culminating in recent favorable court decisions that led to the rapid disbursement of benefits in multiple states.
Even before winning the stay through an appeal to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration had resisted reimbursing states for the initial round of SNAP payments. For instance, Wisconsin faces financial strain after loading benefits onto cards for 700,000 residents, with the U.S. Treasury halting reimbursements. The state anticipates exhausting funds by Monday, potentially leaving vendors unpaid and prompting legal challenges.
According to a filing at the First Circuit Court of Appeals, states may be required to return significant sums if the situation is not resolved promptly, leading to severe operational disruptions and adverse consequences for residents. In response, the Department of Agriculture informed states that any payments made were deemed unauthorized, instructing them to reverse the issuance of full SNAP benefits for November 2025.
Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin swiftly rebuffed the administration’s directive, highlighting the state’s compliance with court orders and emphasizing the failure of the Trump administration to fulfill its commitment to ensuring full SNAP benefits for November.
