Federal Judge Weighs Forcing USDA to Pay SNAP Benefits Despite Shutdown

A federal judge considered ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tap into a $5 billion contingency fund to avoid a lapse in the national food stamp program on Oct. 30. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, during a hearing in Boston, said the government should find a way to continue giving limited benefits to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP), rather than cutting it off completely. “The steps involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits,” she said. Talwani is expected to issue a ruling by the end of Thursday. Approximately 1 in 8 Americans benefit from SNAP, and at a cost of around $100 billion a year, it is one of the country’s most amply-funded social service initiatives....