“From the start, I’ve made it clear that USDA was legally required to use the SNAP contingency fund and send out November benefits. The courts have now ruled that this is the case. This certainly helps the 42 million Americans that rely on food assistance across our country. However, as U.S. District Court Judge McConnell noted in his decision last week, there are funds available to the Trump administration right now which can be used to cover the full benefits in November. The Trump administration had to be forced to do what is legally and morally right – use the contingency funds. And now it is cutting food assistance to hungry seniors, children, veterans and people with disabilities this month by refusing to use its authority to extend full benefits. This is shameful, but not at all surprising from an administration that already cut SNAP by $186 billion earlier this year.”