States Sue USDA Over SNAP Payment Pause

At least two dozen states, led by California, have sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins seeking court orders to force the agency to use SNAP contingency funds to pay November benefits amid the federal government shutdown. State attorneys general say federal law and billions in contingency reserves require continued payments and call the USDA’s announced pause unlawful and harmful to tens of millions who rely on the program. The USDA says it lacks the authority or appropriations to tap those contingency funds without a new funding bill and has blamed congressional Democrats for the shutdown. Attorneys general and governors note the USDA has previously used emergency funds for other programs and argue the agency is improperly withholding SNAP to exert political pressure. Some states say they cannot cover the shortfall and local charities and community groups are mobilizing while the legal fights aim to restore benefits before November 1.