Introduction to the SNAP Benefits Crisis
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 and Its Implications
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Boston, by 22 state attorneys general, three governors and Washington, D.C. "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. Campbell also spoke Tuesday outside the Massachusetts State House, where a large group rallied to protest the funding cuts.
The Rallies and Protests
"We’re confident, based on our legal arguments, that hopefully, the court will side with us to ensure these benefits can continue for our families," she said. "Don’t force a mother to choose paying rent or feeding out children," an unidentified woman said in her remarks at the rally. The contingency fund has roughly $5 billion — enough to pay the benefits for more than half a month, according to the lawsuit.
The Impact on Beneficiaries
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. About 40% of those who rely on the program — over 16 million — are children. Another 20% are seniors living on Social Security. The group also includes about 1.2 million veterans, 22,000 active-duty military families, and around 1.5 million college students trying to make it through school.
Personal Stories of Struggle
Freda Wiley, who also attended the rally, relies on SNAP benefits because of her disability. "If I don’t get my food stamps on the 4th," she said, "I’ll be hitting the food pantries, and hopefully, the food pantries will be able to compensate for what I need." David Wadleigh, a farmer who owns Kimball Food Farm in Pepperell, was setting up on Copley Square in Boston on Tuesday for the farmer’s market that’s open twice a week. "It’s nice to be able to hand it to someone directly and know that it’s going to them," Wadleigh said.
The Role of SNAP in the Community
Agencies like Road to Responsibility in Marshfield are also planning for the pinch. President and CEO Chris White says SNAP helps supplement the state’s roughly $9 a day for food — benefits their 1,300 clients who are living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "I could not manage to feed anyone in my family for just $9 a day," he said. "And so SNAP benefits are used to fill that gap."
Conclusion
The suspension of SNAP benefits has sparked a lawsuit and widespread concern among beneficiaries, food banks, and states. With the deadline for funding approaching, the Trump administration is facing pressure to act. As Gov. Maura Healey said, 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.
FAQs
Q: What is SNAP and how many people use it?
A: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a food assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families buy groceries. About 1 in 8 Americans use SNAP, which is approximately 42 million people.
Q: Why was the lawsuit filed against the Trump administration?
A: The lawsuit was filed because the Trump administration suspended SNAP benefits despite having contingency funds available to pay out full benefits for November.
Q: How much money is in the contingency fund?
A: The contingency fund has roughly $5 billion, which is enough to pay the benefits for more than half a month.
Q: Who are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit?
A: The plaintiffs include 22 state attorneys general, three governors, and Washington, D.C.
Q: What is the impact of the SNAP benefits suspension on beneficiaries?
A: The suspension of SNAP benefits will force many beneficiaries to choose between paying rent and feeding their children, and will have a significant impact on food banks and states that rely on the program.
