Trump administration cannot withhold $4 billion for food aid, US appeals court rules

BOSTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court late on Sunday allowed a judge's order to stand that directs U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to fully fund this month's food aid benefits for 42 million low-income Americans during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to halt Thursday's decision by a Rhode Island judge requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to spend $4 billion set aside for other purposes to ensure Americans receive full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.