(The Hill) – Democratic officials in 25 states sued the Trump administration Tuesday in an attempt to block a food assistance program from drying up this weekend amid 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 suspended starting Nov. 1.
The states contend the administration is legally required to first spend the SNAP contingency fund, which experts say currently has between $5 billion and $6 billion. It wouldn’t be enough to fully cover the November benefits, which are estimated at roughly $8 billion, but the states stressed it could cover “at least a significant portion.”
“The agency cannot simply suspend all benefits indefinitely, while refusing to spend funds from available appropriations for SNAP benefits for eligible households,” the lawsuit states.
In a new memo, the USDA said spending the contingency fund during a government shutdown is illegal because it was designed to respond to natural disasters and other unforeseen events. The memo contradicts the shutdown plan prepared by USDA earlier in the year.
“We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement. “Continue to hold out for the Far-Left wing of the party or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Massachusetts, an epicenter of the flood of legal challenges against Trump administration policies.
It is brought by Democratic attorneys general in Washington, D.C. and 22 states. They are joined by three Democratic governors — Kansas’s Laura Kelly, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear — who come from states with Republican attorneys general.
“Shutting off SNAP benefits will cause deterioration of public health and wellbeing. Ultimately, the States will bear costs associated with many of these harms,” the lawsuit states.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel
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