James Battles Feds Over SNAP Benefits

NEW YORK – The fight over food on the table just escalated. New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of 25 other states, is taking the federal government to the Supreme Court, accusing it of a relentless, illegal campaign to starve millions of Americans by cutting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It’s a brazen power play that’s leaving states scrambling and families facing empty plates.

According to an amicus brief filed today, November 11, 2025, James and her allies are demanding the high court reject the federal government’s latest attempt to block a U.S. District Court order requiring the USDA to release full November SNAP payments. “This administration has repeatedly shown that it will stop at nothing to illegally cut off the assistance that more than 40 million Americans rely on to put food on the table,” James stated bluntly. “I will continue to fight this administration’s heartless attempts to deny New Yorkers and those across the country the SNAP benefits they are owed.”

The legal battle began heating up last week. On November 6, the Rhode Island district court ordered the USDA to immediately release full November SNAP benefits. The agency initially signaled compliance, leading states like New York to begin distributing the funds. But then, in a late-night reversal on November 8 – 10 p.m. to be exact – the USDA issued a memo claiming any release of full benefits was “unauthorized” and threatened financial penalties against states that didn’t claw back the money. It’s a tactic straight out of a playbook of intimidation, sources within the AG’s office confirm.

This isn’t an isolated incident. James and the coalition previously sued the federal government on October 28 for withholding SNAP benefits during the recent federal shutdown. A federal court ruled in their favor on October 31, mandating the USDA use contingency funds to at least partially fund the program. Just yesterday, November 10, they secured a temporary court order blocking the November 8 memo, preventing the feds from punishing states for rightfully providing assistance. The back-and-forth is creating a logistical nightmare for states and widespread anxiety for recipients.

The stakes are immense. Denying full SNAP benefits to over 40 million people isn’t just about empty stomachs; it’s about prolonged food insecurity, escalating health problems, and disrupting the education of children. James argues the federal government has a legal duty to provide these benefits, and forcing states to administer partial payments would create chaos. The coalition, which includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, is standing firm.

Governors from Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania are also backing the legal challenge. The Supreme Court now holds the fate of millions in its hands. This isn’t just a legal dispute; it’s a moral one. And Letitia James is making it clear she won’t back down until those in need receive the assistance they deserve. The Grimy Times will continue to track this developing situation and expose the truth behind the cuts.

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