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The US Supreme Court has issued an urgent ruling that temporarily allows the Trump administration to withhold billions in funding for food benefits used by millions of low-income Americans.

The White House sought relief from the country's highest court after a lower court ordered that the SNAP program, called food stamps, should be distributed completely to recipients by the end of the week.

The programme has been left in limbo by the continuing budget impasse, with the government arguing it could only afford to partially fund it.

The court's decision means $4bn can be held back for now pending further legal hearings.

Programme Impact

This nutrition aid is issued by 42 million Americans - around one in eight - and requires almost £6.9bn a each month.

Earlier this week, a federal magistrate, the presiding judge, alleged the Trump administration of blocking nutrition funds "due to political motives" and said that without the assistance "millions of kids are in danger of facing hunger".

The judge mandated the government to pay out the programme completely.

Court Proceedings

This decision came after that required the administration to use reserve money to at least partially fund the assistance for November.

The legal saga was spurred after the US Department of Agriculture, which manages the food stamp program, announced benefits would be halted in the fall due to the budget shortfall over the budget crisis.

Prior to the high court's action, the USDA said it was working to comply with the multiple rulings and was making efforts to doll out the full funds.

High Court's Move

Supreme Court Justice Justice Jackson issued the stay on Friday evening, called an administrative stay, effectively freezing the previous decision for 48 hours while federal attorneys pursue an appeal.

This dispute over food aid funding has become one of the bitterest of what is now the longest government shutdown in US history.

Wider Effects

Federal employees have been unpaid for over 30 days and air travel has been disrupted as Congress members cannot reach a deal to fund the government.

Several states have drawn on their own budget savings to keep Snap payments going, which are worth around $6 to recipients via electronic benefit cards which can be redeemed in food markets.

However, certain states have said they are unable to replace the money which has been lost from the U.S. treasury.