SNAP

A federal appeals court on Friday denied a Trump administration request to temporarily block a lower court ruling requiring the government to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program amid the government shutdown. 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit ruling comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday said it is working to comply with a judge’s order to fully fund the program for November. 

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell rejected the administration's effort to only partially fund the benefits program for some 42 million low-income Americans for November as the shutdown drags on, giving the government 24 hours to comply. 

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In a letter sent to all regional directors of the SNAP program, Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, said, "FNS is working towards implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances in compliance with the November 6, 2025, order from the District Court of Rhode Island."

After the appeals court ruling, the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping it will step in by 9:30 p.m. ET Friday evening. 

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"Given the imminent, irreparable harms posed by these orders, which require the government to transfer an estimated $4 billion by tonight, the Solicitor General respectfully requests an immediate administrative stay of the orders pending the resolution of this application by no later than 9:30pm this evening," an administration spokesperson told Fox News. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., officially launched her campaign for New York governor on Friday, pledging to make the state "affordable and safe." 

The top House Republican is entering the 2026 race to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America," Stefanik said Friday on "Fox & Friends."

"New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation, with the highest taxes, the highest energy bills, the highest utility bills," she added.

Stefanik’s campaign launch shakes up the 2026 race in one of the nation’s bluest states. Her early platform centers on crime, taxes and affordability across the Empire State.

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Hochul fired back at her potential rival. The Democratic governor has indicated she will seek re-election, though she has not yet made a formal announcement.

"Our campaign’s message to Trump’s No. 1 cheerleader? Bring it on… " Hochul said, calling Stefanik a "disaster for New York."

Stefanik, who represents a conservative-leaning district in upstate New York, has often criticized Democratic leaders within her state. Recently, she targeted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist.

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"… we saw a raging anti-Semite, pro-Hamas communist who wants to raise taxes — and frankly, he barely won the majority of New York City voters," Stefanik told "Fox & Friends."

"Kathy Hochul endorsed him and bent the knee. She has failed New Yorkers."

Hochul became New York’s first female governor in 2021 after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. She won a full term in 2022, defeating Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.

The 2026 race is expected to be one of the most closely watched statewide contests in the country.