New York's top law enforcement officer has taken a major stance against the Trump administration over the food stamp program. In a lawsuit filed in U.S District Court in Massachusetts, Attorney General Letitia James is pushing to have the USDA resume payments for SNAP benefits despite the current government shutdown.
The issue stems from the USDA's decision to halt payments on Saturday, leaving millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – also known as food stamps – facing uncertain futures. The agency claims it doesn't have the funds to cover costs and instead points fingers at Senate Democrats for not passing legislation that would allow for emergency funding.
However, James disputes this, arguing that the USDA is legally obligated to utilize contingency funds for payments. She asserts that there's no excuse for abandoning families who depend on SNAP as a lifeline. In her view, the federal government should prioritize protecting vulnerable populations like mothers and children over partisan politics.
James joined forces with 24 other states and the District of Columbia in filing this lawsuit, which seeks to intervene before benefits are paused next week. The attorneys general point out that Congress explicitly allocated funds specifically for maintaining benefits during funding gaps.
The stakes are high given that SNAP helps an estimated 40 million Americans afford groceries, including 3 million New Yorkers who receive $650 million in monthly benefits statewide. The Trump administration's actions have left many wondering how they'll put food on the table, especially with a significant portion of New York City relying on the program – over 1.8 million people.
While Governor Kathy Hochul has announced an expedited grant to support local food pantries, she acknowledged that the state can't fill the gap created by federal funding cuts. The lawsuit claims that the USDA's actions are arbitrary and capricious, with the agency having $6 billion in emergency funds at its disposal.
The other states involved in this suit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The issue stems from the USDA's decision to halt payments on Saturday, leaving millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – also known as food stamps – facing uncertain futures. The agency claims it doesn't have the funds to cover costs and instead points fingers at Senate Democrats for not passing legislation that would allow for emergency funding.
However, James disputes this, arguing that the USDA is legally obligated to utilize contingency funds for payments. She asserts that there's no excuse for abandoning families who depend on SNAP as a lifeline. In her view, the federal government should prioritize protecting vulnerable populations like mothers and children over partisan politics.
James joined forces with 24 other states and the District of Columbia in filing this lawsuit, which seeks to intervene before benefits are paused next week. The attorneys general point out that Congress explicitly allocated funds specifically for maintaining benefits during funding gaps.
The stakes are high given that SNAP helps an estimated 40 million Americans afford groceries, including 3 million New Yorkers who receive $650 million in monthly benefits statewide. The Trump administration's actions have left many wondering how they'll put food on the table, especially with a significant portion of New York City relying on the program – over 1.8 million people.
While Governor Kathy Hochul has announced an expedited grant to support local food pantries, she acknowledged that the state can't fill the gap created by federal funding cuts. The lawsuit claims that the USDA's actions are arbitrary and capricious, with the agency having $6 billion in emergency funds at its disposal.
The other states involved in this suit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Can you believe the USDA is like that? "$6 billion in emergency funds" sounds like they're throwing a huge party 
, but really it's just a bunch of empty pockets 
. I mean, come on, can't they just put some actual food in those boxes instead of fighting over who gets to keep the popcorn 
? Letitia James is totally right, tho – we gotta take care of our fams and little rascals 
. And honestly, if Senate Democrats didn't pass that legislation, it's like they're trying to starve America 
... who needs Congress, anyway? 
The USDA's decision to halt food stamp payments is totally unacceptable 
. The lawsuit by Attorney General Letitia James is a huge step forward, but I hope it doesn't get bogged down in the courts 
. We need concrete action NOW to ensure that families can access the food they need 
. This is not just about politics, it's about people's lives 
.
I'm really worried about this SNAP benefits thingy... Like, what's gonna happen to all those people who depend on it? 
It's not just about the money, it's about families struggling to put food on the table. My grandma used to work at a soup kitchen and she said it's heartbreaking to see people waiting in line for hours just to get some basic groceries. 
I feel like the Trump admin is really out of touch with reality here... They're more worried about being seen as heroes than actual human lives? 
It's not a partisan issue, it's basic human decency! 
. i mean, 40 million people rely on snap to get by, that's like, a huge chunk of our population 
.
. it's not just the mothers and children who are affected, but entire communities that depend on snap to get by 
. governor hochul's grant is a good start, but it's just not enough 
.
, she's not afraid to stand up for what's right even if it means going against the trump administration 
. i hope they win this lawsuit and get those snap payments back on track 
. our politicians need to remember that we're all human beings deserving of dignity and respect 
. Still, it's better to try than do nothing, right? The Trump administration needs to come up with a real plan for how they're going to keep people fed during this shutdown.
The lawsuit filed by James and 24 other states is a crucial step towards ensuring that these families receive the support they need. 
governor hochul's grant is a good start but it's not gonna make up for what the feds are taking away 
And what's up with the Trump admin trying to pass the blame on Senate Democrats? That's just lazy.
I'm shocked the USDA is just gonna cut off food stamp payments without a plan B! It's not like they're saying it's a permanent thing or anything... but still, 3 million people in NY are counting on this program 
This whole thing feels super partisan to me and I don't think that's okay 
40 million Americans rely on SNAP, that's like, almost as many people as in NYC alone! 
️ And now we're told they can't get benefits? No way, Jose! 