Democratic Leaders Sue USDA Over Suspension of SNAP Benefits

A coalition of Democratic attorney generals and governors in 25 states is suing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its secretary, Brooke Rollins, over the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the government shutdown.

The Details: The lawsuit argues the USDA has approximately $6 billion in congressional contingency funds to partially maintain SNAP benefits in November. They seek a temporary restraining order requiring the USDA to distribute benefits, saying that withholding funds violates both the Food and Nutrition Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Also on Tuesday, 18 Republican state attorney generals urged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to approve a clean continuing resolution to restore funding for the SNAP program. 

For Context: SNAP provides monthly food assistance to roughly 40 million US residents, with the average benefit totaling about $187 per person, and costing the government approximately $8 billion per month. The USDA has directed states to withhold November SNAP payments, citing legal limitations on using contingency funds for regular benefits once the main appropriation has expired. In addition to SNAP, other nutrition programs, such as WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), face similar funding risks. If SNAP benefits are suspended, it would be the first time in the program’s 60-year history that the federal government has halted distributions during a shutdown.

How the Media Covered It: NPR (Lean Left bias) highlighted instances where President Trump has “move[d] money around to fund priorities” during the shutdown, and cited experts who argue that SNAP funding is being used as a political tool in the ongoing shutdown. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) emphasized the action being from Democrat leaders, focusing on the allegations in the lawsuit. It also highlighted the USDA's justification for not using the contingency fund. The Hill (Center) shared Democrat arguments about the importance of SNAP. It also mentioned the Republican letter to Schumer. All three sources reported on the impact the suspension of SNAP benefits could have on millions of Americans.

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