A federal judge ruled Friday that the US Department of Agriculture must use previously appropriated contingency funds to continue food stamp benefits, blocking the agency’s plan to suspend payments to 41 million Americans starting Nov. 1.

Judge Indira Talwani of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts found that USDA’s interpretation of federal law was “erroneous” when the agency claimed it couldn’t access a $6 billion reserve fund Congress appropriated in 2024 to remain available through September 2026.

The USDA announced Oct. 24 it would suspend all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November because Congress hasn’t passed new appropriations for fiscal year 2026, which began Oct. 1. The program costs approximately $8.6 billion monthly.

Tal

See Full Page