UPDATED: Kansas Officials Applying Pressure to Trump Administration to Keep SNAP Funded During Shutdown

Today, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration had to continue to fund SNAP using government contingency funds during the government shutdown.

This will keep food benefits going for 190,000 Kansas residents who would have lost this help Nov. 1 if not for today's ruling.

The story below was written previous to this federal ruling.

Kansas officials are pressuring the Trump administration to keep SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits moving during the shutdown, which is in its 31st day.

This past Tuesday, Kansas governor Laura Kelly joined a lawsuit with other Democratic governors and state attorney generals against the US Department of Agriculture for refusing to refund SNAP.

This lawsuit could stop the halting of food benefits for nearly 190,000 Kansas residents, as SNAP benefits were set to shut down tomorrow.

The lawsuit called the refusal to use contingency funds “a dramatic change in USDA’s policy.” Members from the other side of the aisle are in favor of keeping SNAP going as well, with Kansas representative Derek Schmidt and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley supporting legislation for drawing down other federal funds to keep SNAP benefits afloat.