Short answer: The Supreme Court issued an emergency pause preventing a lower- court order to fully fund SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, effectively allowing the administration to suspend full SNAP payments for November while the case progresses. Details

• The issue centers on a lower-court ruling that would have required the federal government to fully fund SNAP benefits for November 2025, affecting tens of millions of Americans who rely on food assistance. The Court granted a temporary administrative stay, delaying the full funding order while it considers the administration’s appeal. This pause came as the government faced a shutdown and funding gaps, and Congress had not yet provided new appropriations for SNAP for the new fiscal year.

• What happened next involved the Court balancing the crisis caused by the funding lapse with questions about the separation of powers and congressional funding authority. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the pause pending further consideration, effectively allowing a temporary halt on the full payments. States and advocates were concerned about the immediate impact on food security while the legal process continued.

• The broader context includes ongoing debate over whether SNAP benefits should be restored to full funding immediately or limited to funds available under current appropriations, with the administration arguing the statute permits funding decisions within the constraint of appropriations and the courts weighing the potential harms of delaying benefits against legal questions.

If you want, I can summarize the key dates and the sequence of court actions, or provide a neutral timeline with the major filings and decisions from the involved courts.