The US Supreme Court issued an emergency administrative stay late Friday, letting the Trump administration temporarily withhold $4bn in SNAP benefits amid the federal shutdown. The order pauses a Rhode Island judge's directive to pay the program in full, after he accused the administration of political motives and warned 16 million children risk hunger. SNAP serves 42 million people and costs nearly $9bn monthly. USDA had warned benefits would halt in November but said it was preparing to comply before the stay. With the shutdown dragging on, air travel is snarled and states struggle to backfill aid.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.