States administering a federal food aid programme serving about 42 million Americans faced uncertainty on Monday (November 10) over whether they can — and should — provide full monthly benefits during an ongoing legal battle involving the US government shutdown.

President Donald Trump’s administration over the weekend demanded that states “undo” full benefits that were paid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a one-day window between when a federal judge ordered full funding and a Supreme Court justice put a temporary pause on that order.

A federal appeals court now is considering whether to impose a longer halt to the full benefits. And Congress is considering whether to fund SNAP as part of a proposal to end the government shutdown.

Some states are warning of “c

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