A federal judge ruled Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must use contingency funds to distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the government shutdown. The decision came hours before funding for the program was set to expire, ensuring aid for over 40 million Americans.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell, an Obama appointee, mandated that the administration utilize a $5.25 billion emergency fund to cover SNAP payments. While acknowledging the fund falls short of the $9 billion needed for November benefits, the judge emphasized that withholding all assistance would cause irreparable harm. McConnell rejected arguments limiting contingency funds to natural disasters, citing precedent from the 2019 shutdown.

The ruling requires the USDA to disburse funds “timely or as soon as possible” and submit a court update by Monday. McConnell noted that SNAP benefits had never been terminated previously, stating the program’s necessity outweighs administrative concerns about reserving contingency funds for hypothetical crises like hurricanes.

The government shutdown, now in its fifth week, has intensified scrutiny over federal programs. McConnell’s decision follows another judge’s ruling against halting SNAP payments, though that court did not immediately enforce funding. The judge stressed that the shutdown does not eliminate SNAP obligations, insisting the program’s operation remains a critical priority.