A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to release full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by Friday, directing the government to make overdue payments to states after the disruption caused by the federal shutdown.
However, within hours of the ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal, putting the timing of the payments — and the fate of millions of households relying on food assistance — back into question.
The legal fight marks the latest turn in a two-week battle over the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, which serves roughly 42 million Americans, including more than 800,000 New Jersey residents. Nearly half of New Jersey SNAP participants are children, one in three are individuals with a disability, and one in five are seniors.
Judge Orders Immediate Payment Amid Growing Crisis
U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued the order Thursday, saying the administration failed to meet earlier directives requiring it to either make full payments by Monday or resolve what it described as “administrative and clerical burdens” to ensure benefits would reach recipients by November 5.
In his oral ruling, McConnell said the administration had done neither and emphasized the urgency of restoring aid to millions of households that had already gone days without benefits
The Justice Department’s Notice of Appeal, filed November 6, challenges both the initial restraining order and Thursday’s enforcement order, effectively pausing the court’s mandate until the First Circuit Court of Appeals determines whether payments must proceed.
SNAP Benefits Still Delayed in New Jersey
In the meantime, November 2025 SNAP benefits remain unavailable in New Jersey. The state received federal guidance on how partial benefits might be calculated earlier this week but has not yet received authorization to load any funds onto EBT cards.
“SNAP benefits loaded on your Families First EBT card prior to October 31 are available for you to use,” the state notes on NJSNAP.gov. “Before going to the grocery store, we encourage SNAP food assistance recipients to check their account at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling (800) 997-3333.”
Eligibility notices appearing in MyNJHelps case summaries do not mean benefits have been credited, the state emphasized. Fair hearings related to the November delay will not be scheduled until funding resumes.
Other programs such as Work First New Jersey (WFNJ), the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), and Child Support remain unaffected.
Hopewell Valley Officials Share Food Assistance Resources
With federal payments stalled, local leaders across Hopewell Valley are urging residents to take advantage of existing community food resources — and to donate or volunteer if they are able.
“Hopewell Township would like to remind residents that there are many options available in our community for food assistance at no cost,” the Township said in a public notice this week.
Local resources include:
- Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry – hvymca.org/pantry
- Mercer County Free Food Finder – bit.ly/mercerfoodfinder
- Mercer Street Friends – mercerstreetfriends.org/food
- Arm in Arm Food Pantry – arminarm.org/preventing-hunger
- Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) – trentonsoupkitchen.org
- Yvette Sarah Clayman Food Pantry – jfconline.org/food
- The Chubby’s Project – thechubbysproject.org
- Hopewell Valley Senior Center Lunch Program – 609-989-6650
- HomeFront – homefrontnj.org
The Township also noted that while the State has provided emergency funding to bolster some food organizations, community support remains critical to keeping shelves stocked and programs running.
Pennington Borough and Local Food Drives
Pennington Mayor Jim Davy said the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry has experienced an 8.2 percent weekly increase in household deliveries and a 31 percent rise in demand for its weekend Grab-and-Go program since mid-October. The pantry, which partners with the YMCA and area volunteers, estimates costs of $15–$17 per family per week and is seeking $200,000 to sustain operations through March 2026.
“The Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry is a lifeline for many of our neighbors,” Davy said in a letter shared November 5. “Your continued generosity will help ensure that no family in our community goes hungry while we await resolution of this national crisis.”
Donations can be made directly through hvymca.org/pantry.
Community Strength Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
As the legal fight over SNAP funding continues in federal court, state and local officials are urging residents to stay informed and make use of available resources.
Updates will continue to be posted at NJSNAP.gov and NJ211.org, which provides searchable listings for food pantries and community kitchens across Mercer County.
