(The hill) – Democratic officials in 25 states sued the Trump administration Tuesday to prevent a food aid program from drying up this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indicated that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are provided to more than 40 million low-income Americans, will be extended suspended from November 1st.
The states argue that the government is required by law to first spend the SNAP emergency fund, which experts say is currently between $5 billion and $6 billion. It wouldn’t be enough to fully cover November benefits, estimated at about $8 billion, but states stressed it could cover “at least a significant portion.”
“The agency cannot simply suspend all benefits indefinitely while refusing to spend available funds on SNAP benefits for eligible households,” the lawsuit says.
In a modern memo, the USDA said using the emergency fund during a government shutdown is illegal because it is intended to respond to natural disasters and other unforeseen events. The memo contradicts the shutdown plan drawn up by the USDA earlier this year.
“We are approaching a tipping point for Senate Democrats,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement. “Continue to stand with the far-left wing of the party or restore the government so that mothers, babies and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP benefits.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Massachusetts, an epicenter of the flood of legal challenges to Trump administration policies.
It is filed by Democratic attorneys general in Washington, D.C. and 22 states. They are joined by three Democratic governors — Laura Kelly of Kansas, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky — who come from states with Republican attorneys general.
“Eliminating SNAP benefits will result in deteriorating public health and well-being. Ultimately, states will bear the costs associated with many of these harms,” the lawsuit says.
