Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Applauds Court Rulings Blocking SNAP Cuts During Shutdown

Strategic Insights -

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield praised two federal court rulings that protect access to food assistance for millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help feed their families. The decisions block the Trump administration's attempt to suspend or curtail SNAP benefits during the ongoing federal shutdown. The rulings send a message that hunger should not be used as a political weapon and that following the law and common decency still matter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two federal court rulings block the Trump administration's attempt to suspend or curtail SNAP benefits during the ongoing federal shutdown.
  • A court in Massachusetts issued an order requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to present a plan to continue at least partial funding of the program by Monday, November 3.
  • A federal court in Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) requiring the administration to use contingency funds to sustain SNAP benefits while the case proceeds.
  • The states are likely to succeed on their claim that the USDA acted unlawfully by suspending SNAP during the shutdown, according to the court in the multi-state case out of Massachusetts.
  • The administration likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and federal appropriations law when it refused to use available funds to fund SNAP during the shutdown, according to the court in the Rhode Island case.
  • SNAP currently provides food assistance to roughly one in six Oregonians, generating over $1 billion annually in federal food purchasing power that supports local grocers, farmers, and food producers statewide.

Statistics:

  • 1 in 6 Oregonians rely on SNAP for food assistance.
  • SNAP generates over $1 billion annually in federal food purchasing power that supports local grocers, farmers, and food producers statewide.
  • Hundreds of thousands of Oregonians rely on SNAP to help feed their families.

Sources:

  • "Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Applauds Court Rulings Blocking SNAP Cuts During Shutdown" - Oregon Department of Justice, October 31.
  • https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/oregon-attorney-general-dan-rayfield-applauds-court-rulings-blocking-snap-cuts-during-shutdown/