White House Escalates Legal Battle Over Food Stamp Funding
The Trump administration has launched a dramatic legal fight, turning to the US Supreme Court in a final attempt to block full food stamp payments for November. This move came just hours after a federal appeals court rejected the administration's initial request, creating a high-stakes showdown over essential food aid for millions of Americans during an ongoing government shutdown.
Administration officials had urgently asked the court to block a judge's order requiring the distribution of November's full monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The same court denied this request later that day, prompting the immediate escalation to the nation's highest court.
Legal Timeline and Benefit Reductions
This legal confrontation follows separate rulings from two judges last week that ordered the government to pay at least part of the benefits using an emergency fund. The administration initially stated it would cover only half of the benefits, but later increased this to 65% amid growing political pressure.
US District Judge John J McConnell Jr had given the Trump administration until Friday to make the full payments through SNAP. This deadline came after the administration announced last month that it would not pay benefits for November because of the federal government shutdown, putting nearly 42 million people who rely on the program at risk.
Broader Legal and Political Challenges
In related developments, US District Court Judge Karin Immergut issued a final order barring President Trump from sending the national guard to Portland. Judge Immergut, who was nominated to the bench by Trump during his first term, ruled that the president's claims about conditions in Portland resembling a war zone were completely unfounded.
The administration also faced widespread protests as students, faculty and staff at more than 100 campuses across the United States rallied against what organizers called the Trump administration's assault on higher education. These coordinated protests represent the beginning of a planned series of actions that could culminate in large-scale strikes.
International and Social Policy Developments
In foreign policy matters, the US granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions over Russian oil and gas. This decision followed a friendly meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump in Washington, where Orbán pressed his case for special treatment.
The Supreme Court is also considering taking up a case that could challenge the legality of same-sex marriage across the country. This development came hours after the court ruled that the Trump administration can block transgender and non-binary people from selecting passport sex markers that align with their gender identity.
Additional significant developments include the Trump administration's announcement that the US will boycott the G20 summit in South Africa, citing treatment of white farmers, and concerns that the Washington National Opera may leave the Kennedy Center due to what artistic director Francesca Zambello called Trump's takeover of the institution.
