Trump’s Cold War on the Hungry: Court Orders President to Fund SNAP After Another Legal Defeat
- CUBNSC
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | November 7, 2025
Donald Trump’s war against working-class Americans has hit another wall in federal court. In a resounding decision that underscores the importance of judicial independence, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ruled that the Trump administration must immediately release funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—a lifeline serving more than 42 million Americans, many of them in the very Red States that propelled Trump’s rise.
When Congress failed to appropriate funds amid the ongoing shutdown, Trump’s Department of Agriculture froze November’s food stamp payments, forcing millions into uncertainty. A coalition of cities, nonprofits, and religious organizations sued—and Judge McConnell ordered the administration to act, directing USDA to draw from existing reserves and ensure full payments.
But rather than comply, Trump’s Justice Department attempted to block the order. Their emergency appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit was swiftly denied on Friday, marking the second major legal defeat for the president in as many days.
Even in the face of a humanitarian crisis, Trump’s team argued there was “no lawful basis” to find money “in the metaphorical couch cushions.” The court disagreed. And in its refusal to issue a stay, the appeals panel made one thing clear—the government’s indifference cannot override its obligations to the American people.
SNAP: A Crisis Manufactured by Cruelty
This isn’t just a story about budgets or bureaucratic red tape—it’s about moral bankruptcy at the highest levels of power. Trump’s administration has long sought to slash social programs, vilify the poor, and punish those struggling to survive. Now, in the midst of a record-breaking federal shutdown, his refusal to feed the nation’s most vulnerable families is an act of deliberate cruelty.
The human cost is staggering. States like New York, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Oregon have already begun issuing full SNAP benefits on their own, bypassing Washington’s dysfunction to protect their citizens. Governors and local officials are stepping in where the federal government has failed—again.
Judge McConnell called the administration’s inaction “unacceptable” and warned that hunger and desperation are not political games. “This should never happen in America,” he said in open court, admonishing officials for their refusal to act.
A Pattern of Heartlessness
Trump’s lack of empathy is nothing new. Just one day before the appeal, during a November 6 press conference in the Oval Office, an industry guest collapsed behind him—and the president stood frozen, unmoved. The image went viral, symbolizing his presidency’s emotional void.
That same lack of humanity now defines his approach to the SNAP crisis. By fighting to block food aid during a shutdown of his own making, Trump has once again proven that his loyalty lies not with the people—but with the spectacle of power itself.
The People Fight Back
Behind the legal filings and political noise is a powerful truth: community leaders, advocates, and everyday Americans are pushing back. The coalition that sued in Rhode Island includes faith groups, workers’ unions, and local governments that see SNAP not as welfare, but as the backbone of food security for families, children, and seniors.
Their victory in court—temporary though it may be—is a reminder that when Washington forgets its conscience, the courts can still serve as the people’s shield.
A Reckoning Ahead
The Trump administration has already appealed to the Supreme Court, hoping for a political rescue from accountability. But as the shutdown drags into its sixth week, the optics are devastating. Millions are hungry. Families are waiting. And a president once again finds himself on the wrong side of both the law and history.
Trump may believe he can rewrite budgets and bully agencies into submission—but he cannot silence the moral authority of the people demanding justice.
Comments