FRANKFORT, Ky. (WEVV) — A federal judge has ruled in favor of Kentucky and 24 other states, demanding the restoration of suspended Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Gov. Andy Beshear announced.

“While the Trump administration said it couldn’t fund SNAP during the shutdown, two federal judges just said it can and should,” Beshear said. He emphasized the importance of standing up for Kentuckians and highlighted the impact on more than 40 million Americans, including nearly 600,000 Kentuckians.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts ruled that the suspension of SNAP benefits was likely illegal. The USDA was ordered to decide on the release of contingency funding. In Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. also ordered the distribution of

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