Jacob Fischler

The money would be in farmers’ hands by the end of February, according to the administration.

Gov. Beshear says federal government should be "fighting hunger, not causing it."

Roughly 42 million Americans rely on the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help afford groceries.

The off-and-on freeze of SNAP benefits has prompted a confusing mess of contradicting guidance and a flurry of court orders.

The order on Friday temporarily blocked a lower court’s order that the Trump administration pay for a full month of food benefits, hours after some states began loading nutrition assistance funds on payment cards.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump walked back his administration’s plan to partially restore November food benefits during the ongoing government shutdown, saying on social media that payments through the SNAP would resume only when Democrats agree to reopen the government.

Following court orders to resume payments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will use $4.65 billion in contingency funds to cover roughly half of November’s SNAP benefits — but the money could take weeks or months to reach recipients.

There was no immediate word from USDA on how it will implement the judicial orders, while the administration sought guidance from the courts.

McConnell, who turned 82 last week, cited the death of his wife’s sister several weeks ago, as an event that prompted him to think about his future.

“White supremacy is a poison,” President Joe Biden told civil rights leaders on Monday. “It’s a poison that’s been allowed to grow faster and faster in our communities.”

Kentucky’s Thomas Massie is one of four Republicans splitting from the party majority.