Judge Orders Fed Govt to Use SNAP Contingency Funds Amid Shutdown

New York – In a decisive victory for millions of Americans, New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured a court order requiring the federal government to utilize its contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing shutdown.

The ruling came after AG James and a coalition of 25 other state attorneys general and governors challenged the suspension of November SNAP benefits by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), arguing that such an action was illegal due to the availability of contingency funds specifically allocated for such situations.

“The administration’s attempt to use the shutdown as an excuse to withhold food assistance is unacceptable,” said AG James. “We are determined to ensure that every family in New York and across the nation has access to the vital resources they need to survive.”

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts found USDA’s suspension of SNAP to be unlawful, ordering immediate action by the administration to deploy contingency funding and report its plans to the court by November 3rd. In a related case, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has also granted a nationwide temporary restraining order requiring the restoration of SNAP benefits.

“The federal government cannot abandon its responsibility to feed those it serves,” emphasized AG James. “We will continue our efforts until every family can secure the food they need.”