Author | Lightnews

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 2d

if football knowledge were the Force, you'd have like six light sabers. Great costume!

Reposted by Chip Roush

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Federal judge rules that the Trump administration likely illegally suspended SNAP benefits, ruling that at least reduced distribution is required to go forward under law using the $6 billion reserve fund.

Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ET AL.,
Plaintiffs,
V.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ET AL.,
Defendants.

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Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-13165-IT
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
October 31, 2025
TALWANI, D.J.
Pending before the court is Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order [Doc.
No. 3] seeking to enjoin, on an emergency basis, Defendants' November 1, 2025 suspension of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"). For the reasons stated
below, Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action and are likely to succeed on their claim that
Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is unlawful. Where that suspension of benefits rested
on an erroneous construction of the relevant statutory provisions, the court will allow Defendants
to consider whether they will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November, and report
back to the court no later than Monday, November 3, 2025.

A. Likelihood of Success on the Merits
Plaintiffs have demonstrated a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claim under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A), (C), that Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is contrary to law. At core, Defendants' conclusion that USDA is statutorily prohibited from funding SNAP because Congress has not enacted new appropriations for the
current fiscal year is erroneous. To the contrary, Defendants are statutorily mandated to use the
previously appropriated SNAP contingency reserve when necessary and also have discretion to
use other previously appropriated funds as detailed below.

As both parties acknowledge, Congress has not yet appropriated any new funds for SNAP
benefits for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025. Pls.' Mem. 6 [Doc. No. 4];
Defs.' Opp'n 7 [Doc. No. 18]. But Congress took steps to protect against the deprivation of
SNAP assistance. In the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 118-42, § 6, 138
Stat. 25, 93-94, Congress separately appropriated $6 billion to the SNAP program "to remain available through September 30, 2026" and "be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations." See also Pub. L.
No. 119-4, § 1101(a), 139 Stat. 9, 10 (2025). As Plaintiffs point out, given the mandatory nature
of SNAP benefits under 7 U.S.C. § 2014(a) and the appropriation of these funds to be available
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Case 1:25-cv-13165-IT
Document 26 Filed 10/31/25
Page 11 of 15
through this current fiscal year, the government is obligated to use this contingent reserve
account to fund SNAP "as may become necessary to carry out program operations." 138 Stat. at
93-94; Pls.' Mem. 11 [Doc. No. 4].

Defendants argue out that a "suspension" is permitted under USDA's regulations, and that USDA "has consistently interpreted its authority to allow for the suspension or cancellation of benefits when necessary." Defs. Opp'n 6 [Doc. No. 18). The regulation at issue, 7 C.F.R. $ 271.7(a), sets forth procedures to be followed if monthly SNAP allowances "must be reduced, suspended, or cancelled to comply with section 18 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008"
(emphasis added). But that the regulation allows for a suspension when there are no funds does
not mean that Defendants may choose a suspension over a reduction while funds do remain. If
the regulation did authorize such discretion, it would be inconsistent with the statutory mandate that benefits "shall" be paid unless funding is no longer available.

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 2d

spooky-but-compelling Halloween game? Why, Dark Heists, of course, a "deck building game of daring heists with crooked monsters and monstrous crooks" #boardgames #lifelessons youtu.be/3AzLo0ctIMk

Dark Heists 251031

A Place for All My Books 251029

Reposted by Chip Roush

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 2d

A reminder: 'institutional neutrality' doesn't stop universities from enacting DEI policies, b/c institutional autonomy in matters directly relevant to operating and fulfilling a university's roles don't violate it. Read the UWaterloo Free Expression Task Force report: uwaterloo.ca/freedom-of-e...

uwaterloo.ca

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 4d

sounds fab! May it all be even better than you're hoping.

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 4d

How do you organize your books? By topic, title, author, or (shudder) by color? Have you ever taken part in a book crawl (sequential visits to libraries, bookstores, and coffeeshops, snacking and reading along the way)? Check out A Place for All My Books youtu.be/EYzUS84CFZs

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 6d

I hope all the free time you'll have now will be filled with family connections and good gaming.

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 6d

Congratulations, Dr. Hill!

US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month

Reposted by Chip Roush

Mikki Kendall @karnythia.bsky.social · 7d

If you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples

Reuters @reuters.com · 7d

US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

reut.rs

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Reposted by Chip Roush

Christmas Miriam 🎄 @miriam.blacksky.app · 7d

For the Americans I know you don’t hear much global news but Ireland just elected Catherine Connolly as our president by a laaaaandslide ✊🏽

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 10d

a friend introduced me to Kavango a few months ago. Loved it then, eager to find its expansion. Thanks, Peer!

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Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 10d

looking forward to it!

Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 11d

That's awesome. I hope you get the chance to soak up all the fun and glory. Thanks for making wonder-ful games!

Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 12d

sending hugs. May his memory be a blessing to you

TotC: Spirit Island 251021

Chip Roush @chiproush.bsky.social · 12d

Your fave from last week: Spirit Island. Appropriate for spooky season, with its interesting fear mechanic. Let's play! #boardgames youtu.be/7Ly0x8I-cFY