【环球财经】美国法官裁定政府必须动用应急资金维持食品救济发放

Core Points - The U.S. federal government has been in a shutdown for 31 days, with the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" (SNAP) becoming a major focus due to funding issues affecting approximately 42 million people, or one-eighth of the U.S. population, most of whom live below the poverty line [1][2] - A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the government must utilize emergency funds to maintain SNAP operations during the shutdown, criticizing the decision to withhold $6 billion in emergency funds as "arbitrary" and potentially causing "irreparable harm" [1] - Multiple states, led by Democratic governors, have filed lawsuits against the USDA for halting food assistance, with a Massachusetts federal judge ordering the government to clarify its position on the use of emergency funds by November 3 [2] Group 1 - The SNAP program is at risk of exhausting its funds due to the ongoing government shutdown, impacting millions of low-income individuals [1] - The USDA initially planned to use emergency funds to sustain SNAP but later stated it could not continue funding, leading to legal actions from local governments and organizations [1] - The Rhode Island federal court's ruling emphasizes the priority of food assistance over reserving funds for disaster relief, highlighting the critical nature of the SNAP program [1] Group 2 - Legal actions have been initiated by 25 states and Washington D.C. against the USDA's decision to suspend food assistance, indicating widespread concern over the program's funding [2] - The Massachusetts federal judge's order reflects the judiciary's willingness to intervene in the matter, suggesting a potential favorable outcome for the plaintiffs [2] - Former President Trump expressed willingness to provide funding if legally guided, acknowledging that food assistance would still be affected despite potential funding [2]