On Friday, Judge McConnell issued a clear directive:
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The USDA must guarantee full SNAP benefits for November by Monday, November 3
The instruction left no room for hesitation. What made the ruling even more notable was the judge’s explicit crediting of President Trump for stepping in quickly: “The court greatly appreciates the president’s quick and definitive response to this court’s order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding.”
It is unusual — almost unprecedented — for a federal judge to publicly commend a president in such direct terms during a contentious shutdown. But the urgency of the moment demanded it.
A Battle Over Contingency Funds: What the Law Allows — and What It Doesn’t
Central to the legal drama was the question of whether contingency funds could be tapped to keep SNAP operational. Judge McConnell argued forcefully that Congress intended for these funds to be used in emergencies like the present situation.
He cited both precedent and written guidance from Trump’s first term, which indicated that USDA could access contingency reserves if SNAP faced disruptions due to a government shutdown.
But the USDA — under Secretary Brooke Rollins — disputed the interpretation.
According to Rollins:
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contingency funds can only be used when the program is fully funded, not during a partial or lapsed funding period
The conflicting interpretations created a legal and practical dilemma. Yet Judge McConnell was unequivocal: “Congressional intent is clear. The funds must be used now due to the shutdown.”
This set the stage for an unprecedented confrontation between federal departments, courts, and the White House.
