Supreme Court Keeps Block on Full SNAP Payments as Shutdown Nears Possible End
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended a temporary order that prevents the resumption of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments while the federal government remains partially closed. The extension preserves a patchwork situation in which some families in certain states have received their full monthly SNAP allotments while others have received nothing.
The Senate has approved legislation to end what became the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, and the House could bring the measure to a vote as early as Wednesday. Reopening the government would allow SNAP to resume; the program serves about 42 million people. Officials have not said how quickly full benefit payments would be restored once the shutdown ends.
By extending the order, the justices chose a cautious course: they avoided a definitive legal ruling on whether lower-court orders requiring full SNAP distributions during the funding lapse were correct, apparently expecting the shutdown to be resolved soon.
Other major developments
Visa guidance tightens health and financial screening
A recent State Department cable instructs embassy and consular staff to more thoroughly vet visa applicants for health conditions (such as diabetes or obesity) and financial self-sufficiency to ensure they will not rely on public benefits. Immigration experts say the new guidance could reduce approvals for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas and reflects an expansive interpretation of the "public charge" doctrine.
Colombia halts intelligence cooperation
President Gustavo Petro ordered Colombian security forces to suspend intelligence-sharing with U.S. agencies until Washington stops strikes on vessels it says are used by suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean. Petro argued the operations endanger civilians' human rights. U.S. strikes have been blamed for at least 75 deaths, according to critics.
Lawsuit challenges TSA transgender pat-down policy
A Transportation Security Administration officer at Dulles International Airport has sued the Department of Homeland Security, alleging sex discrimination over a policy that bars transgender officers from conducting pat-downs and restricts restroom access. The policy, adopted in February to align with an executive order defining two sexes, requires male officers to pat down male passengers and female officers to pat down female passengers "based on operational needs." The TSA declined to comment because of pending litigation.
Political and congressional developments
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer faces criticism from some progressives for his handling of the shutdown, though his leadership position appears secure. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson is recalling lawmakers after an extended closure; members will vote to reopen the government and take up other stalled business, including swearing in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva and possible efforts to release Jeffrey Epstein–related files.
Policy proposals and state responses
President Trump proposed a "$2,000 tariff dividend," claiming tariffs could fund payments to American families; budget experts were skeptical. Meanwhile, Connecticut lawmakers are advancing a plan to set aside $500 million in state reserves to backstop delays in federal food and heating aid and to offset potential changes to health care subsidies.
Veterans, protests and other news
Veterans Day observances were affected by the shutdown: Calverton National Cemetery canceled its ceremony but remained open to visitors. Former President Barack Obama surprised veterans arriving from Wisconsin and greeted them at Reagan National Airport. Federal officials will investigate protests at a Turning Point USA event in Berkeley, which followed the assassination of the group's founder; the Department of Justice said the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force will review the incidents.
Additional items
Other notable stories include a Utah judge adopting an alternate congressional map that creates a Democratic-leaning district, the pardon of Robert Harshbarger Jr. by President Trump, calls by LULAC to accelerate VA reforms for Latino veterans, and President Trump’s comments on college-sports pay caps and football rules.
This article synthesizes multiple developments; timelines and official decisions may change as the House votes and agencies respond.
