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Food assistance

Nationwide Coalition Sues to Protect Food Security for Millions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As millions of families face the loss of vital food assistance, a coalition of local governments, charitable and faith-based nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and workers' rights organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Trump-Vance administration's unlawful suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, challenges the administration's refusal to use available funds to maintain SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown and its abrupt termination of existing waivers protecting part-time workers and job seekers from losing benefits in regions with few jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit, filed by Democracy Forward and the Lawyers' Committee for Rhode Island, challenges the Trump-Vance administration's unlawful suspension of SNAP benefits for over 42 million people, including children, seniors, and veterans.
  • The plaintiffs argue that the administration's actions violate federal law and the Administrative Procedure Act by refusing to use available funds to maintain SNAP benefits and terminating existing waivers protecting part-time workers and job seekers.
  • The lawsuit seeks to protect the nation's first line of defense against hunger and stabilize local economies during crises.
  • Plaintiffs include municipalities such as City of Albuquerque, New Mexico; City of Baltimore, Maryland; City of Central Falls, Rhode Island; City of Columbus, Ohio; and City of Providence, Rhode Island.
  • Charitable and faith-based nonprofit organizations such as Rhode Island State Council of Churches, Amos House, and the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) are also part of the lawsuit.
  • The lawsuit asks the court to order the USDA to resume November benefits, protect the SNAP program, and halt the premature termination of SNAP work requirement waivers in affected states.

Statistics:

  • Over 42 million people, including children, seniors, and veterans, will be affected by the loss of SNAP benefits, beginning November 1.
  • SNAP benefit cuts will inflict immediate and irreparable harm on families and communities across the country, forcing families to skip meals, overwhelming food pantries, and harming small businesses that rely on SNAP transactions to stay afloat.
  • The Trump-Vance administration has reversed USDA's longstanding policy under previous administrations' guidance that contingency funds should be used to sustain SNAP operations during funding lapses.

Sources:

  • Democracy Forward
  • Lawyers' Committee for Rhode Island
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Rhode Island State Council of Churches
  • Amos House
  • East Bay Community Action Program
  • Federal Hill House Association
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
  • The Milagros Project
  • National Council of Nonprofits (NCN)
  • New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
  • United Way of Rhode Island
  • Main Street Alliance
  • Black Sheep Market in Greenville, South Carolina
  • Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

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