U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
CNN Capitol Hill reporter Sarah Ferris reported on X that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will not commit to releasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds if ordered to do so by a Boston judge overseeing a case against them
Boston's U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani is currently overseeing a legal case involving the government shutdown and SNAP, with the Trump administration arguing that it lacks the authority to use an emergency fund to pay for November SNAP benefits, potentially affecting 42 million Americans.
Talwani expressed skepticism toward the administration's argument during a hearing on Thursday, emphasizing her interpretation of congressional intent to protect people during emergencies. According to the Washington Post, Talwani indicated she is likely to intervene to ensure food aid continues by ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture to utilize the available $5.5 billion contingency fund.
Talwani stated that if the government can't cover the full cost, it must find an "equitable way of reducing benefits" rather than suspending them entirely.
Ferris said that CNN senior Capitol Hill producer Ellis Kim asked Rollins "if she will agree to release funds if ordered to do so by Talwani, to which Rollins replied, “We're looking at all the options.”
Aaron Blake, CNN's senior political reporter shared the news on X, saying, "I have a really hard time believing they would resist such an order. Feels like a great way to lose the political battle here."
Daily Kos reporter Emily Singer noted the move would mean the Trump administration is "[fighting] to make sure people aren't fed."
Bulwark MSNBC managing editor Sam Stein explained his understanding of the "administration's position" on the potential ruling.
The Trump administration is arguing "they legally can't release the funds[,] but if a judge tells them that they legally can release the funds they won't necessarily release the funds," Stein wrote on X.