A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court has halted the distribution of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Colorado residents, impacting thousands of families in need. Prior to this decision, approximately 32,000 Coloradans, or about 5% of those relying on the program, received fully funded benefits for November. The halt comes amid a federal government shutdown that has frozen essential funding for food assistance programs.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed disappointment, noting that while the state had begun distribution of full SNAP benefits, they cannot issue refunds following the Supreme Court’s intervention. “The state has not reversed those payments as they were allowed at the time,” Polis stated. He highlighted the importance of the SNAP program, which supports over 600,000 residents in Colorado, with nearly half of them being children.
The legal battle surrounding SNAP benefits intensified late Saturday when the administration of former President Donald Trump demanded that states retract full benefits that had been authorized by lower court rulings. This demand followed a series of favorable rulings from judges that allowed the program to continue during the shutdown, benefiting millions across several states.
On Friday evening, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson intervened, temporarily pausing the lower court rulings while the Supreme Court deliberated on the federal government’s appeal. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed state SNAP directors that it now considers the prior benefit disbursements unauthorized.
The USDA’s announcement means Colorado officials are now working to provide eligible residents with only 65% of their normal benefits in the coming days. This adjustment has raised concerns about the adequacy of support for families who depend on these funds for basic sustenance. Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at the USDA, emphasized in a memo that states could face penalties if they did not comply with this directive.
Compounding the issue, some states, such as Massachusetts, have argued that they should not be penalized for using their own funds to support SNAP during the shutdown. Governor Maura Healey stated that her state processed benefits in accordance with prior USDA guidance and expressed readiness to contest any attempts by the federal government to reclaim those funds.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska also criticized the USDA’s directive, calling it “shocking” if it applies to states that utilized their own resources to maintain the program. “Those states should not be penalized,” she asserted.
In response to the unfolding situation, Polis called for the federal government to cease its legal appeals, stating, “Nothing is preventing the Trump administration from fully funding SNAP benefits. They are simply choosing not to.” He emphasized the urgency of resolving the funding crisis to ensure families can access the food assistance they require.
As the legal situation continues to evolve, the impact on Colorado residents remains significant. With the USDA’s recent guidelines, many families may be left without sufficient resources for November. The outcome of this legal battle will not only affect Colorado but also set precedents for SNAP programs across the nation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report, highlighting the ongoing complexity surrounding food assistance amidst federal funding challenges.
