Judges rule that food stamp benefits cannot be suspended over shutdown — and Trump responds



The threat to cut food aid benefits was ended by two court rulings that said the Trump administration would need to use contingency plans to keep the money flowing.

Democrats and Republicans have been blaming each other for the U.S. Department of Agriculture plan to cut off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on Nov. 1.

'I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.'

On Friday, judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that SNAP benefits could not be cut.

"There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur, if it hasn't already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family," said U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston similarly ruled that the "suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that the contingency funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments."

Both judges McConnell and Talwani were appointed by former President Joe Biden.

The president responded to the rulings in a post on Truth Social.

"Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do," the president said.

"I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT," he added. "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible."

RELATED: California police increase patrols around grocery stores ahead of possible food stamp shutoff

He went on to blame Democrats for the shutdown and called on Americans to pressure Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to reopen the government.

"If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay," Trump added.

About 42 million Americans depend on the SNAP program for food aid. Polling shows that far more Americans blame Democrats for this shutdown than during the first government shutdown during Trump's first term.

"If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW!" Trump concluded.

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Meet The Mysterious Billionaire Paying American Troops During Government Shutdown
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Meet The Mysterious Billionaire Paying American Troops During Government Shutdown

'I don't have to say why'

Illegal alien steals from SNAP program in massive fraud scheme



As more than 40 million Americans prepare for a disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program handouts amid the Democrat-led government shutdown, a member of a fraud conspiracy related to SNAP has been brought to justice.

On October 15, an Italian illegal alien living in Oregon was sentenced to federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

'By siphoning millions of dollars in government funds intended for food-insecure households, this illegal criminal alien proved to be one of the worst of the worst.'

Over the course of 14 months between August 2023 and October 2024, Giovanni Spirea, 29, and his co-conspirators purchased over 120,000 pounds of groceries using electronic skimming devices to steal SNAP benefits.

"Spirea shared stolen account information with other members of the organization, who, along with him, used the stolen benefits to purchase large quantities of infant formula, energy drinks, and other SNAP-eligible nonperishable food items from grocery stores ... and through websites associated with grocery stores offering curb-side pickup," the DOJ said in a press release.

The stolen items were then sold on the black market, the DOJ added.

RELATED: Democrats’ shutdown blame game backfires — even Jake Tapper calls them out on SNAP benefits

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Spirea and his co-conspirators operated in Oregon, Washington, and California. The estimated value of the stolen goods is $2.4 million.

“By siphoning millions of dollars in government funds intended for food-insecure households, this illegal criminal alien proved to be one of the worst of the worst,” said April Miller, Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting special agent in charge.

“Protecting government-funded programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program isn’t just about preserving funds — it’s about safeguarding trust in a vital lifeline that millions of families depend on to put food on the table,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford. “Today’s sentencing should deter perpetrators from defrauding American families and the federal government for personal gain.”

Spirea was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $61,874.32 in restitution. Sixteen others were charged in the conspiracy.

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Democrats Have Put Republicans In Win-Win Situation Just In Time For Midterms

They're in denial about the reality of their political situation

The More People Complain About SNAP Lapses The More It’s Obvious The Program Is A Scam

As Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits dry up during Democrats’ government shutdown, the left-wing media along with millions of Americans reliant on SNAP are complaining about the lapse in coverage. But mixed into these complaints is a viral article highlighting that roughly 90,000 noncitizens will also lose SNAP access — not because of the […]

Trump urges Senate to deploy the 'Nuclear Option' on filibuster



President Donald Trump is urging Senate leadership to initiate the "nuclear option" to finally bring the Democrat-induced government shutdown to an end.

Trump called for the Senate to nuke the filibuster one month into the shutdown as Democrats show no signs of flipping. For the last 31 days, all but three Democrats have voted to keep the government closed, leaving the government five votes short of reopening.

'We should avoid that at all costs.'

"It is now time for the Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD,' and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!" Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday night.

"Now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying 'SHUT DOWN,'" Trump added.

Trump also claimed that if Republicans do not end the filibuster, the Democrats will someday.

"If the Democrats ever came back into power, which would be made easier for them if the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it," Trump warned.

Trump noted that just two senators — Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona — prevented Democrats from ending the filibuster during Biden's term in office.

RELATED: Senate Republicans betray Trump, help Democrats try to block tariffs

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Although Trump's demands often dictate the party's next move, nuking the filibuster has not been a popular play among Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has been a strong institutionalist and vocal defender of the filibuster, which essentially gives the minority party veto power on legislation unless 60 senators agree to pass it. In the early days of the shutdown, Thune admitted that nuking the filibuster was a "possibility" but strongly advised against it.

“Well, there’s always that possibility,” Thune told reporters. “We put up with it, obviously, in his first term as president. I could see at some point that being a potential conversation. But that’s not good for anybody. ... We should avoid that at all costs.”

Thune's Republican colleague Sen. John Curtis of Utah similarly cautioned against eliminating the filibuster, saying it "forces us to find common ground in the Senate."

"Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t," Curtis said in a post on X. "I’m a firm no on eliminating it."

RELATED: 'Unfit for the gavel': House GOPs sound off on Judge Boasberg, stand with senators in calling for impeachment

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump, on the other hand, has a long-standing record criticizing the filibuster. In 2017, Trump called the filibuster a "joke," saying it was "killing" the Republican majority in the Senate at the time.

With no end in sight, the government shutdown could very well surpass the record-breaking 35-day shutdown in Trump's first term.

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One month into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to spark a government shutdown, Democrats are reading from separate playbooks about how to end the standoff. Though more Democrats appear ready to end the weeks-long stalemate as soon as next week, few lawmakers appear to share the same victory scenario if the caucus relents in their […]

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'Time for the Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD''

Places To Visit In D.C. Unaffected By The Government Shutdown

If you’re at a loss for what to do in Washington during the shutdown, or if you're looking for off-the-beaten-path places to visit once the government reopens, check out this list.