SNAP benefits lapse for nearly two million Pennsylvanians as federal judges rule government must fund program

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Nearly two million Pennsylvanians have lost access to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) as the federal government shutdown enters its second month.

A federal judge in Rhode Island on Friday ruled in favor of Pennsylvania and other states that sued to restore SNAP funding. Governor Josh Shapiro announced the decision at a press conference.

“The Trump administration must turn the spigot on and must release these tax dollars,” Shapiro said.

Still, it may take over a week for funding to be distributed, assuming the federal administration does not appeal the decision.

“It’s going to take about 10 days for them to be able to get those dollars flowing to SNAP recipients again,” Shapiro said.

Across Pennsylvania, the loss of SNAP benefits affects residents statewide, including just under 96,000 people across Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

In U.S. Congressional District 7, which covers Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties as well as parts of Monroe County, that number is over 100,000 people, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

President Donald Trump responded to the ruling on social media writing “Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do.”

Additionally, Shapiro has signed a disaster declaration, which will provide funding for food banks in the state. “Our administration will now immediately drive out $5 million to food banks like Philabundance that will allow them to purchase more healthy food from local sources including Pennsylvania farmers.”

Congressional Representative Ryan Mackenzie, who represents the 7th district hosted a food drive in Allentown on Saturday.

“Tens of thousands of local families depend on SNAP and WIC, and local food banks will struggle to keep up with the surge in demand if these programs are allowed to lapse,” he said earlier in the week in a press release. “It’s time for partisanship to take a back seat to the lives of American families — the government must be funded.”