Supreme Court allows Trump to temporarily withhold food aid for Americans

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Donald Trump administration to withhold approximately four billion dollars intended for November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 42 million low-income Americans.

This is in response to an order by Judge John McConnell, who ordered full payment of benefits despite the federal government shutdown. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a two-day administrative stay to give the appeals court time to rule on the government's request.

McConnell ordered the funds to be used from another program, but the administration appealed, saying it would cause chaos. Democrats have criticized the court's decision, accusing the administration of political abuse of the system.

States such as New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have ordered state agencies to pay full benefits for November. "President Trump should never have put the American people in this situation," assessed Democrat and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

Benefits were suspended earlier this month for the first time in its 60-year history, leading to increasing pressure on food banks and casualties among recipients.

(reuters, max)