Attorney General Kris Mayes has stepped to the forefront of a legal battle against the USDA and its Secretary Brooke Rollins. In a move that unites 21 attorneys general and three governors, Mayes is pushing back against the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amidst a federal government shutdown, a decision affecting over 40 million Americans who depend on the program to secure food, as reported by an official press release from the Arizona Attorney General's office.
The standoff over SNAP benefits arises in the wake of Congress’ failure to pass an appropriations bill, leading to a shutdown that commenced on October 1, 2025. Just nine days later, the USDA alerted state SNAP agencies about the potential evaporation of full November benefits should the shutdown persist. These benefits serve as a lifeline to millions, including nearly 900,000 Arizonans, as "Donald Trump is cutting off food assistance," said Attorney General Mayes in a statement issued by the Arizona Attorney General's office.
The lawsuit contends that the USDA's decision to withhold SNAP funding is not only illegal but also a calculated choice, considering the existence of contingency funds specifically allocated for such circumstances. "USDA has funded other programs with emergency funds during this shutdown," Mayes remarked, pointing out an inconsistency in funding allocations during the shutdown. The repercussions, as laid out in the complaint, are extensive—not only threatening the health and well-being of those who rely on SNAP but also putting stress on local economies and businesses that benefit from the economic activity generated by SNAP expenditures.
Revealing the scope of the program's impact, 12% of Arizonans receive SNAP benefits, with children constituting around 40% of the beneficiaries in the state. This crucial support system also underpins the livelihoods of many veterans, with nearly 30,000 in Arizona relying on SNAP for their grocery purchases every month, as outlined in the Arizona Attorney General's office press release. The lawsuit also emphasizes the harm caused to all those grocers and merchants that accept SNAP payments and the broader economic activity stemming from each dollar of SNAP benefits spent.
In addition to Mayes, the coalition seeking to challenge the USDA comprises attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Also joining the fray are the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Their collective action includes a temporary restraining order, which was filed in a bid to reactivate the SNAP benefits immediately, as also detailed in the attached complaint and TRO documentation made available by the Arizona Attorney General's office.
