States Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Funding Amid Shutdown

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to utilize available contingency funds to continue providing food assistance to approximately 42 million Americans who rely on the program.

The USDA announced that, due to the government shutdown, it would not issue SNAP benefits starting November 1, citing insufficient funds. However, the agency has access to nearly $6 billion in contingency funds designated for such emergencies. The states argue that withholding these funds violates federal law and endangers millions of low-income individuals and families.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "Millions of Americans are about to go hungry because the federal government has chosen to withhold food assistance it is legally obligated to provide."

The USDA contends that the contingency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits during a funding lapse, asserting they are reserved for natural disasters. The agency also indicated it would not reimburse states that attempt to finance SNAP benefits independently.

This legal action underscores the escalating tensions between state governments and the federal administration over the provision of essential services during the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 28th day.