Washington: US President Donald Trump instructed lawyers on Friday to seek guidance from the courts on how to legally fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. "I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to Anadolu Agency, this move came after two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use emergency funds to partially finance food stamp benefits for tens of millions of low-income Americans in November. Trump's statement highlighted the conflicting opinions from courts and the legal uncertainty faced by government lawyers regarding the use of available funds for SNAP.

Trump expressed his concern that Americans might face food insecurity due to the ongoing political standoff, attributing the situation to what he described as the refusal of "Radical Democrats" to reopen the government. He emphasized his willingness to provide funding, contingent on receiving appropriate legal direction from the court, much like his previous actions for Military and Law Enforcement pay.

The President also criticized Democrats, urging them to end what he called a "charade" that harms people for political reasons, and encouraged SNAP beneficiaries to pressure Senate Democrats to resolve the shutdown. The government shutdown, starting October 1, marks the second-longest in US history following a deadlock in federal spending negotiations.