The monthly SNAP money required is $8.5-to-$9 billion (give or take).
What the primary contingency fund has presently? Around $5.25 billion. If you do the math....it's about 2.5 weeks worth. However, if the judge means immedate turn-on....well, it takes about 7 days for the gov't to load and 'move' money to the states. So even if things go well on Monday....it would NOT show up until 10 November, and be about 60 percent of a normal month.
Trump's crew intends to ask the judges about their power to issue this command, and prepare them for the problem that it only lasts for two weeks.
I personally don't think either of the two judges involved....understands much on finance, SNAP, or moving money around.
The other problem that comes up....the two judges could direct the USDA to consider reallocating up to $23 billion from a separate account under the Agricultural Adjustment Act amendments of 1935.
Logically.....if this order occurred....it could potentially cover the full monthly SNAP outlay for November, December, January, and probably February.
However, at that point...the pot would be entirely gone (empty).
Meanwhile, the Trump team would likely ask....do the judges have this authority, and the Supreme Court (figure 10 days) would be handed the case, and ask under what authority that a judge can spend money....under the Constitution (there is none).
My humble guess is that Trump will marginally cooperate....handing out $3-billion...to get things started around the 10th, and let the Supreme Court say it's not legal....pinning finance/legal problems back onto the two judges.
But to add more 'fuel' to this....just guessing....most all grocery stores in the US...will begin shutting down by Wednesday of this week....where you can order and pay for your goods at the front door (figure a $10 fee involved).
More to come? I have this idea....that non-Americans on SNAP probably have a limited amount of time left....before they will be dumped off. If you think things are crappy now....just wait.
