Amid a multi-sided legal, political, and governmental battle, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday afternoon said full federal food-stamp benefits for people who were eligible on Nov. 1 were being sent out as he spoke, but future payments were uncertain because of the ongoing fight.

The Democratic governor’s announcement in Philadelphia included a fiery condemnation of Republican Vice President J.D. Vance, who reportedly called “absurd” a federal judge’s ruling on Thursday that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits should be distributed. Mr. Shapiro branded Mr. Vance a “phony” whose position on the issue was “shameful.”

The weekslong battle reached an important moment Thursday when a federal judge ordered that full November SNAP food benefits be distributed. Even though the administr

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