Direct answer: The Supreme Court’s action to pause or delay full SNAP benefits in November 2025 stemmed from a government shutdown scenario and ongoing litigation over funding. The administration sought to withhold or limit payments pending court review, while a lower court had ordered full benefit disbursement. The Court issued an emergency stay to pause the full payments while higher courts considered the dispute, effectively leaving beneficiaries in limbo and delaying the usual full monthly SNAP payments for many households. Context and key points:

• Background: SNAP is funded via federal budget appropriations. During a government shutdown, spending can become uncertain, prompting legal battles over whether to pay full benefits or deploy emergency funds.
• Lower court ruling: A federal judge had ordered that full SNAP benefits be paid for November, arguing that withholding funds would harm millions of low-income households.
• Supreme Court intervention: The Court granted an emergency stay, temporarily blocking the lower court’s order to disburse full benefits while the appeals process proceeded. This keeps beneficiaries from receiving the full November allotments until a higher court weighs in.
• Impacts: Tens of millions of SNAP recipients faced delays or reductions, increasing reliance on food banks and other aid while the legal questions about funding and spending controls are resolved.
• Ongoing questions: The dispute concerns how to allocate limited emergency or alternative funds and how to reconcile executive decisions with congressional appropriations during a shutdown.

If you’d like, I can summarize the latest status from reliable outlets and provide a simple timeline of the key rulings and dates, using up-to-date sources.