Two dozen states sue Trump administration over impending SNAP cuts
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Shoppers inside a grocery store in the Bronx borough of New York City on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo: Kena Betancur/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Twenty-five Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to force it to resume food stamps payments as the government shutdown drags on.
The big picture: Roughly 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Department of Agriculture has warned benefits will stop Nov. 1.
- The coalition, led by the attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia, filed the lawsuit in Massachusetts, arguing that the administration is withholding up to $6 billion in emergency funds to sustain SNAP benefits.
What's inside: The suit alleged the USDA's move violates the Food and Nutrition Act, which requires "assistance under [SNAP] must be furnished to all eligible households" who apply.
- "It is States that operate SNAP on the ground and are forced into the position of trying to explain to needy, hungry people ... why they will not be receiving the benefits they have been promised, despite the availability of funds and the federal government's decisions to fund other programs during this shutdown," the filing said.
What they're saying: Several Democratic leaders held press conferences Tuesday to discuss the goal of the suit.
- "The truth is, Congress gave [the Agriculture Department] a $6 billion emergency fund to use in situations like this," North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said at a press conference in Raleigh."
- "If Congress gives a department money to fund a program, that department cannot refuse to fund that program," he said. "That would be the department effectively overriding Congress."
- "While Donald Trump parades around the world trying to repair the economic damage he's done with his incompetence, he's denying food to millions of Americans who will go hungry next month," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "It's cruel and speaks to his basic lack of humanity. He doesn't care about the people of this country, only himself."
The other side: The White House referred Axios' comment to the Office of Management and Budget.
- "Democrats chose to shut down the government knowing full well that SNAP would soon run out of funds," an OMB spokesperson said. "It doesn't have to be this way, and it's sad they are using the families who rely on it as pawns."
- "We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. Continue to hold out for the Far-Left wing of the party or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments," a USDA spokesperson told Axios.
- A banner posted Monday on the USDA site also blamed Senate Democrats for the funding lapse.
- "They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance," the site said.
The bottom line: Food banks warn they won't be able to keep up with the surge in need when SNAP benefits run out later this week, with supplies already strained from other federal program cuts.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
