The Trump administration pledged late last month that it would draw on emergency funds to partially cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while the federal government is shut down.

While a Democrat-appointed judge later ordered that benefits be paid in full by this past Friday, the Supreme Court has stepped in to block his move. 

Judge told White House to tap Section 32 Child Nutrition Fund

As the Washington Examiner reported, U.S. District Judge John McConnell instructed the White House to draw money from the Section 32 Child Nutrition Fund.

"Last weekend, SNAP benefits lapsed for the first time in our nation’s history, this is a problem that could have and should have been avoided," McConnell wrote on Thursday.

"Therefore, the court grants the plaintiff’s motion to enforce and consistent with its prior orders, orders the administration to make the full snap payment to the states by tomorrow, Friday, November 7, utilizing available Section 32 funds in combination with the contingency funds," he continued.

McConnell rejected Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer Tyler Becker's argument that Section 32 funds were not intended to cover SNAP along with his concern that Congress might fail to replenish the money.

"Considering that, one, Congress with bipartisan support, has always funded the child nutrition program, and two, once a new appropriation bill is passed, 'amounts appropriated for SNAP could be transferred to the child nutrition program account to effectively reimburse her for the amounts that account covered,'" the judge declared.

Supreme Court issues emergency pause

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration immediately appealed McConnell's ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit but it refused to pause his order.

In response, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown put McConnell's order on hold until the appeals court decides whether to issue a more lasting pause.

The news service noted how Brown's pause will remain in effect for 48 hours after the First Circuit's ruling should it decide to uphold McConnell's decision.

The Associated Press pointed out how some states used the short window between McConnell's order and Brown's pause to access the funds necessary for November's SNAP benefits.

Solicitor general concerned that states will use up "finite" funds

That fact was highlighted by Solicitor General D. John Sauer in his request for emergency relief from America's highest judicial body.

He observed that states were "trying to seize what they could of the agency’s finite set of remaining funds, before any appeal could even be filed, and to the detriment of other States' allotments."

"Once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds," Sauer maintained.