Washington: The United States Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to temporarily continue its cutback on food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. The court extended a short pause on a lower court ruling that had ordered the government to restore full payments to millions of low income Americans.

This decision means the administration can withhold around four billion dollars in benefits that were meant for about 42 million people who rely on SNAP. The pause, however, is not a final ruling and is expected to expire later this week. The issue remains under review as legal battles continue in several courts across the country.

The dispute began after a federal judge in Rhode Island directed the administration to release full SNAP payments by Friday, saying that withholding funds during a government shutdown would cause severe hardship for families. The administration appealed the decision, arguing it needed more time to make system adjustments for state programs.

Following the Supreme Court’s order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructed states that had already distributed full payments to take steps to undo those transactions. This created confusion and frustration among beneficiaries and state officials. Some states, including Massachusetts, said they would not try to reclaim the funds and urged residents to keep using them.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the Supreme Court’s decision, saying she would have denied the administration’s request to continue the cutbacks.

The cutbacks come amid an ongoing federal government shutdown, which has disrupted multiple social welfare programs and affected millions of Americans. Congress is currently debating a funding bill aimed at reopening the government and restoring full benefits.

The outcome of the case could have far reaching effects on how federal assistance programs operate during shutdowns. For now, families depending on food aid remain uncertain about how long they will continue to receive reduced support.