Introduction to SNAP Benefits
With the deadline for funding SNAP benefits approaching, a group of attorneys general and governors has sued the Trump administration, saying the widely used food assistance program was suspended unlawfully.
The lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins says the funds were suspended despite there being contingency funds available to pay out full SNAP benefits in November for all 42 million people who use them.
The Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Boston, by 22 state attorneys general, three governors and Washington, D.C. It’s the latest legal battle amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Reaction to the Lawsuit
"Despite having the money to fund SNAP, the Trump Administration is creating needless fear, angst and harm for millions of families and their children especially as we approach the holidays," Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said in a statement. "It is past time for the Trump Administration to act to help, rather than harm, those who rely on our government."
The Impact of SNAP Benefits
About 1 in 8 Americans use SNAP to help buy groceries. Beneficiaries, food banks and states have been scrambling to figure out how to make sure they’ll have access to food even if the program is paused.
The Contingency Fund
The contingency fund has roughly $5 billion — enough to pay the benefits for more than half a month, according to the lawsuit. The full list of plaintiff states is Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C., was also part of the lawsuit, and the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania filed suit as well.
State Response to the SNAP Benefits Halt
Gov. Maura Healey said that President Donald Trump has the power to distribute federal dollars that serve as a lifeline for many residents, but that Massachusetts does not have the money to cover the benefits if they are lost.
Conclusion
The lawsuit against the Trump administration is a significant development in the ongoing debate over SNAP benefits. With the deadline for funding approaching, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The contingency fund and the lawsuit may provide some relief to those who rely on SNAP benefits, but the long-term solution is still uncertain.
FAQs
Q: What is SNAP and how does it work?
A: SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a food assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families buy groceries.
Q: How many people use SNAP benefits?
A: About 1 in 8 Americans use SNAP to help buy groceries.
Q: What is the contingency fund and how much money is in it?
A: The contingency fund has roughly $5 billion, enough to pay the benefits for more than half a month.
Q: Which states are part of the lawsuit against the Trump administration?
A: The full list of plaintiff states is Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C., was also part of the lawsuit, and the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania filed suit as well.
