The federal government told a judge Monday it will use all remaining contingency funds to provide reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November as the shutdown continues to block new spending.

The move came after two federal judges on Friday ordered the government to keep the program running. One ruling came in a Rhode Island lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups, and another in a separate case filed by more than two dozen states. The USDA had argued it could not legally tap contingency funds to maintain benefits, but both judges disagreed.

RELATED STORY | Judges say Trump administration can’t suspend SNAP benefits during shutdown

In a court filing Monday in the Rhode Island case, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will spend $4.65 billion — abou

See Full Page