BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration has filed an appeal in a federal appeals court to halt a judge's order that would require the full distribution of monthly SNAP benefits for November during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had set a deadline for the administration to distribute funds through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which aids approximately 12% of the American population, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.

Despite the legal challenge, some states, including Wisconsin, have reportedly begun to issue full payments as confirmed by Gov. Tony Evers’ spokesperson, Britt Cudaback, who assured that residents are already seeing their benefits reflected in their accounts.

This ongoing court battle creates prolonged uncertainty for millions of SNAP recipients as the administration argues it cannot exceed the available funds in its contingency budget. The resolution of this issue remains critical as many families depend on these benefits for their daily sustenance during the national crisis.