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More than 42 million US residents are anxiously awaiting to learn if the Trump administration will utilize contingency money to supply billions in food aid.

Judges gave the White House until Monday at 12:00 EST (5:00 PM GMT) to give updates about how it intends to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food assistance.

Financial support for the program is still uncertain due to the extended US government shutdown caused by the inability of lawmakers to approve a budget agreement.

Despite the judges' ruling or other resolution, countless Americans have been deprived of critical nutrition support since money for the program expired on Saturday.

State Administration and Government Money

Although state governments administer the assistance, the programme depends on money from the federal government, which has been unfunded and closed since 1 October.

Courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island determined that the US Department of Agriculture needs to use $5.25bn (£4bn) in emergency funds to provide some funding to recipients on Snap.

The program requires about eight billion dollars per month.

• Judges both gave the government the choice to utilize money set aside for contingencies to provide the benefits.

Court Actions and Administration Reaction

US President Donald Trump previously said he had instructed administration attorneys to ask the courts how the government could legally finance Snap, stating: "Even if we get immediate guidance, it will sadly be postponed."

Sunday, the Treasury Secretary said in a CNN interview that the president wanted to hear from the judiciary about how to legally move money around to support Snap payments but they could be distributed as early as Wednesday.

"A procedure exists that must be adhered to," the Secretary said. "So, we've got to determine what the method is."

Recently, the USDA said it will stop providing nutrition support money starting 01 November because of the federal closure, stating: "The well has run dry."

Lawsuits and Local Reactions

Numerous states and the District of Columbia sued the administration over the food-aid freeze and contended that they have a statutory duty to keep the program running in their jurisdictions.

Separately, municipalities and charitable organizations also filed a lawsuit.

With uncertainty surrounding federal Snap funding, several states said they would use their own money to fund Snap benefits.

Program Importance and Benefit Details

Snap serves a critical function allowing many low-income Amerians to buy groceries.

It provides them prepaid cards that they can use to buy food.

A household with four members on average receives seven hundred fifteen dollars monthly, which breaks down to a little less than $6 per day, for each individual.