Hunger on the Line: States Fight to Keep Food Benefits Flowing

A major legal battle is unfolding as 25 states take the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to court to prevent a halt in food assistance for millions of Americans. This comes as a federal government shutdown looms, threatening to cut off funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Key Points

• Lawsuit Filed: The lawsuit, filed in a Massachusetts federal court, argues that the USDA has the money and the legal duty to keep food benefits coming, even during a shutdown.
• Impact: Without intervention, up to 42 million people could face hunger starting this Saturday. This would mark the first time in the program's 60-year history that payments would stop.
• Legal Support: The lawsuit is supported by 22 states' attorneys general and the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

Statements from Attorneys General

• New York Attorney General Letitia James:

  "Millions of Americans are about to go hungry because the federal government has chosen to withhold food assistance it is legally obligated to provide."

• California Attorney General Rob Bonta:

  "They are doing this on purpose. It is deliberate. It is intentional. They have the funds. They’re just not using them."

USDA's Response

• USDA Spokesperson: Claimed the department's hands are tied, arguing that contingency funds are typically reserved for natural disasters, not routine benefits.
• Bonta's Counterpoint: Pointed out that the USDA's 2019 shutdown plan acknowledged the use of multiyear contingency funds to maintain benefits temporarily. This language has since disappeared from the USDA website.

Current Situation

• October Funding: SNAP funding for October was already approved before the shutdown, allowing payments to continue this month.
• November Funding: Without federal action, the USDA says no additional funds will be issued in November.
• State Warnings: Some states have already started warning residents to prepare for the funding halt by stocking up on non-perishable foods or seeking help from local food banks.

Political Criticism

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom: Criticized Republican governors for not joining the lawsuit, noting that the impacts in their states are disproportionately affected.