New York's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Letitia James, has taken the US government to court in a bid to keep food stamp benefits flowing for millions of Americans despite the ongoing partial shutdown.
The move comes as the Trump administration plans to pause SNAP payments on Saturday, citing its inability to use contingency funds to cover costs. However, James and 24 other states have joined forces to challenge this decision, arguing that the USDA is legally obligated to utilize these funds to keep monthly payments going.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves an estimated 40 million Americans, provides crucial support for those struggling with food insecurity. New York state alone receives $650 million in SNAP benefits every month, helping around 3 million residents afford their groceries. Of this number, nearly 1 million are children.
James has accused the administration of abandoning families who rely on SNAP as a lifeline, saying there is "no excuse" for its decision to pause payments. The federal government had previously authorized emergency funding for such situations, and the lawsuit argues that these funds can be used to prevent benefit disruptions.
The US Department of Agriculture claims that Senate Democrats are the ones to blame for the shutdown, stating that they continue to hold out for more radical policy changes. In contrast, James has taken a firm stance, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable families who rely on SNAP for sustenance.
As the lawsuit makes its way through the courts, it remains to be seen whether the administration will be forced to reverse course and keep payments flowing. One thing is clear, however: millions of Americans are counting on their food stamps to get by, and any disruption would have serious consequences for those struggling with hunger and poverty.
The move comes as the Trump administration plans to pause SNAP payments on Saturday, citing its inability to use contingency funds to cover costs. However, James and 24 other states have joined forces to challenge this decision, arguing that the USDA is legally obligated to utilize these funds to keep monthly payments going.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves an estimated 40 million Americans, provides crucial support for those struggling with food insecurity. New York state alone receives $650 million in SNAP benefits every month, helping around 3 million residents afford their groceries. Of this number, nearly 1 million are children.
James has accused the administration of abandoning families who rely on SNAP as a lifeline, saying there is "no excuse" for its decision to pause payments. The federal government had previously authorized emergency funding for such situations, and the lawsuit argues that these funds can be used to prevent benefit disruptions.
The US Department of Agriculture claims that Senate Democrats are the ones to blame for the shutdown, stating that they continue to hold out for more radical policy changes. In contrast, James has taken a firm stance, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable families who rely on SNAP for sustenance.
As the lawsuit makes its way through the courts, it remains to be seen whether the administration will be forced to reverse course and keep payments flowing. One thing is clear, however: millions of Americans are counting on their food stamps to get by, and any disruption would have serious consequences for those struggling with hunger and poverty.
Those 40 million Americans who rely on food stamps for their daily bread can't just disappear because of a little government disagreement. I mean, come on, $650 million in NY alone is no chump change! We need to stand up for these families and keep the benefits flowing. This is all about politics, not people's lives 
. If the Trump admin thinks they can just take away our safety net, they're sadly mistaken 
.
this is super unfair 
! 
no way should ppl be forced 2 skip meals 
cuz gov't can't figure out how 2 spend $$ 
. SNAP is lifesaver 
4 fams who r struggling 2 make ends meet 
. 
dont blame dem for trying 2 keep it going 
! 
USDA should use contingency funds 
2 prevent benefit disruption 
. this lawsuit is a step in right direction 
! 
gotta protect vulnerable fams who r counting on SNAP 4 sustenance 
. What if their parents aren't working right now? Who's gonna feed them? 
The fact that the USDA is just sitting on these emergency funds and not using them is just frustrating 
. Can you imagine the chaos if they did pause payments? 
.
. I mean, $650 million a month for NY state is a lot of money, but it's nothing compared to the potential consequences of shutting down this program. 3 million kids can't afford food because of politics? That's just heartbreaking 
. The USDA knows better than to mess with people's groceries, and James is right to fight back 
.
There are so many people relying on these benefits to get by, especially kids and families who need that food to survive. It's not fair to just cut them off like that. I'm all for the states and AG James fighting back, though - they're standing up for what's right here 
. And let's be real, the USDA knows they can use those contingency funds to keep things going... it's just a matter of who's in charge 
and then they're mad when ppl fight back? 
this is so frustrating the gov't is playing politics w/ ppl's lives like they're just numbers on a spreadsheet not actual human beings struggling to put food on the table 
SNAP is literally the only thing holding some fams together and now it's being pulled out from under them? that's just cruel 
meanwhile, these 24 states are fighting hard to protect their constituents... kudos to them 
. And now we're talking about pausing them during this partial shutdown? No thanks 
.
. And I gotta say, the USDA's reasoning just doesn't add up 
️. what's next? are we gonna start rationing water too? 
. gotta keep an eye on this one...
[Image of a cartoon character holding an empty stomach, with a red X marked through it]
. james & those other states r fightin 4 the right thing here. we gotta protect our families & communities from gettin left behind 
.