For the first time in almost seven years, the federal government shut down Oct. 1, leaving approximately 750,000 federal employees furloughed until Congress agrees on a new budget. As the shutdown leaves millions of Americans struggling with losses in wages and reduced access to services, the Trump administration’s refusal to fund food stamp payments threatened to significantly exacerbate the crisis. This was until federal judges stepped in to force the president’s hand.

Recent rulings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Oct. 31 ordered the administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown after the White House refused to use an emergency fund to support the program. This $5 billion fund was created by Congress for this exact scenario: when political gridlock stands to deprive vulnerable individuals of their right to eat.

Without the intervention of the federal courts, SNAP benefits would have been cut for roughly 42 million Americans. Yet, even

“The stark reality of government shutdowns: People are punished first.”

with the courts’ rulings, uncertainty about the timeliness of these payments remains. It could take upwards of several weeks to send out the benefits, which were meant to be issued Nov. 1, leaving individuals and families unsure if they can afford to buy groceries. Food banks nationwide have seen the response to these fears firsthand, with lines growing longer and food supplies running low.

Threats to SNAP’s ability to assist vulnerable individuals highlight the stark reality of government shutdowns: People are punished first. Federal workers and contractors are temporarily without pay, unable to support themselves and their families. Although the courts have legally enforced the continued funding of SNAP during the shutdown, the reality that a vital program like SNAP was in jeopardy in the first place is jarring. The government should prioritize funding programs that benefit its citizens, regardless of a government shutdown.