The US shutdown is in its second month, imposing untold hardship on millions of Americans. Photo: AP PHOTO

A federal court in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to make full food aid benefit payments by Monday, or partial payments by Wednesday, while acknowledging the "irreparable harm" that exists without their timely payment.

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The Rhode Island case is one of two lawsuits filed to block the US Department of Agriculture's suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP or food stamps.

In a ruling issued on Friday, Judge John J McConnell

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