Democrats Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Benefits

Strategic Insights -

A coalition of 22 Democratic state officials, including the attorneys general of Massachusetts, California, Arizona, and others, has sued the Trump administration over the decision not to release food assistance funds for 42 million people during the ongoing government shutdown. The Trump administration has stated that it will not process November SNAP benefits without fiscal 2026 funding approved by Congress, despite holding $6 billion in a reserve fund. This decision is contrary to the USDA's own contingency plan, which stated that the contingency fund would be used to continue benefits through the shutdown. The Democratic officials argue that the administration's decision is arbitrary and capricious, a violation of federal administrative law.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration has stated that it will not process November SNAP benefits for 42 million people without fiscal 2026 funding approved by Congress.
  • The USDA is holding $6 billion in a reserve fund, but has chosen not to use it to continue SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
  • The administration's decision is contrary to the USDA's own contingency plan, which stated that the contingency fund would be used to continue benefits through the shutdown.
  • The Democratic officials argue that the administration's decision is arbitrary and capricious, a violation of federal administrative law.
  • 22 Democratic state officials, including the attorneys general of Massachusetts, California, Arizona, and others, have sued the Trump administration over the decision.
  • The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Massachusetts on Tuesday.
  • The attorneys general of the following states have joined the lawsuit: Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state, and Wisconsin.
  • Democratic Govs. Laura Kelly of Kansas, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania have also joined the lawsuit.
  • New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has spoken out against the decision, stating that the federal government should be expanding access to food assistance, not undermining it.
  • A group of 23 attorneys general has also joined a letter to USDA Secretary Rollins, denouncing the impending SNAP halt and calling on the USDA to account for any contingency funds it has available.

Statistics:

  • 42 million people are expected to be affected by the decision not to release food assistance funds.
  • $6 billion in contingency funds are being held by the USDA.
  • The Trump administration has stated that it will not process November SNAP benefits without fiscal 2026 funding approved by Congress.
  • 22 Democratic state officials have joined the lawsuit against the Trump administration.
  • 42 million people are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Sources:

  • [https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/commonwealth-of-massachusetts-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture-complaint-2025.pdf](https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/commonwealth-of-massachusetts-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture-complaint-2025.pdf)
  • [https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan)
  • [https://sourcenm.com/2025/10/24/new-mexico-officials-weighing-options-in-advance-of-lost-snap-benefits/](https://sourcenm.com/2025/10/24/new-mexico-officials-weighing-options-in-advance-of-lost-snap-benefits/)