The Highest Court Rules Complete Snap Food Aid Can Be Put on Hold.
America's top court has issued an urgent ruling that temporarily allows the federal government to delay billions in funding for food benefits used by millions of low-income Americans.
Administration officials sought relief from the country's highest court after a lower court ordered that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called food aid, should be distributed in full to recipients by Friday.
The programme has been caught in uncertainty by the ongoing federal government shutdown, with the Trump administration claiming it could only pay for part of it.
Friday's ruling means $4bn can be held back for now until more court proceedings.
SNAP's Reach
This nutrition aid is issued by 42 million Americans - around one in eight - and requires almost $9bn a month.
Earlier this week, a federal magistrate, the presiding judge, accused the government of withholding food aid "for political reasons" and said that without the assistance "16 million children are in danger of facing hunger".
The judge mandated the government to fund the programme in full.
Court Proceedings
The Thursday ruling followed another that ordered the administration to use contingency funds to at least partly pay for the assistance for November.
This court battle was triggered after the USDA, which oversees the Snap programme, announced payments would be stopped in the fall due to the lack of funding over the budget crisis.
Prior to the high court's action, the USDA said it was working to comply with the various court orders and was taking steps to doll out the full funds.
High Court's Move
Supreme Court Justice Justice Jackson granted the order on Friday evening, known as an temporary halt, pausing the lower court's ruling for two days while federal attorneys pursue an appeal.
The row over food aid funding has become among the most contentious of what is now the longest government shutdown in American history.
Broader Impact
Government workers have been without pay for over 30 days and flight operations has been thrown into chaos as Congress members cannot reach a deal to pass a budget.
Several states have drawn on their own financial reserves to keep Snap payments going, which are valued at around $6 to recipients via pre-loaded debit cards which can be used in grocery stores.
But some states have said they are unable to replace the money which has been lost from the U.S. treasury.