The Highest Court Decides Full Snap Food Benefits Can Be Temporarily Halted.

America's top court has issued an emergency order that permits for now the federal government to delay billions of dollars for nutrition assistance used by countless needy U.S. residents.

The White House appealed to the Supreme Court after a federal judge ordered that the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, should be paid out completely to recipients by the end of the week.

This assistance has been left in limbo by the continuing budget impasse, with the Trump administration claiming it could only afford to partially fund it.

Friday's ruling means £3.04bn can be temporarily withheld until more court proceedings.

Programme Impact

This nutrition aid is used by 42 million Americans - approximately 12% - and costs almost $9bn a each month.

Earlier this week, a federal magistrate, the presiding judge, alleged the Trump administration of blocking nutrition funds "for political reasons" and said that without the aid "millions of kids are in danger of facing hunger".

The judge mandated the administration to pay out the programme completely.

Legal Background

The Thursday ruling came after that ordered the government to use reserve money to at least partly pay for the assistance for November.

This court battle was spurred after the US Department of Agriculture, which manages the Snap programme, announced payments would be stopped in November due to the budget shortfall over the budget crisis.

Prior to the high court's action, the USDA said it was attempting to follow with the various court orders and was making efforts to distribute the complete amount.

High Court's Move

Supreme Court Justice Justice Jackson granted the stay on Friday evening, known as an temporary halt, pausing the previous decision for two days while federal attorneys pursue an appeal.

The row over food aid funding has become among the most contentious of what is now the longest government shutdown in US history.

Broader Impact

Federal employees have been unpaid for more than a month and flight operations has been thrown into chaos as Congress members fail to agree a deal to pass a budget.

Several states have used their own budget savings to keep Snap payments going, which are worth around $6 to users via electronic benefit cards which can be redeemed in grocery stores.

However, certain states have said they are cannot cover the funding which has been lost from the federal government.