Bessent: Administration Won’t Appeal SNAP Orders Benefits could resume this week

The Trump administration will not appeal recent court rulings allowing the use of emergency funds to resume SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Sunday. He confirmed that food benefits could be restored as early as this week.

“There’s a process that has to be followed,” Bessent said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, according to CNBC. “So, we’ve got to figure out what the process is.” He explained that President Trump is seeking clear guidance from the courts on how federal funds can be redirected to cover SNAP payments.

The ongoing government shutdown has left more than 40 million Americans without their monthly food assistance. When asked if benefits could resume by Wednesday, Bessent said it was possible, provided the necessary steps were completed in time. The administration faces a noon Monday deadline to update a federal court on its funding plan, according to NBC News.

Over the weekend, food banks across the country saw overwhelming demand. Stadium parking lots in states like California and Texas were converted into large-scale food distribution sites. Brian Greene, president of the Houston Food Bank, said the surge in need hasn’t been seen since the pandemic. “But that was nature hitting us,” Greene said. “This is society making a horrible mistake.”

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