In an unprecedented legal challenge, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the state's participation in a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over the suspension of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. The lawsuit is a response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) statement, obtained by ABC15, that it would not be able to pay out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November due to the shutdown.
During a news conference detailed by FOX10 Phoenix, Mayes expressed concern for the nearly 900,000 Arizonans who depend on this assistance, saying, "'I don't know what we are going to do without it.' That is what I have heard from just one of the Arizona moms." She further criticized the current administration's stance as unlawful and harmful to those most in need.
The contentious political standoff has resulted in a blame game between Democrats and Republicans, with the USDA accusing Senate Democrats of prioritizing healthcare for illegal aliens and gender-related procedures over the welfare of mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable needing critical nutrition assistance. This information was reiterated on the USDA website and cited in a FOX10 Phoenix report.
Attorney General Mayes has urged the state to take action, suggesting Arizona could fund November's SNAP benefits using the state's $1.6 billion Rainy Day Fund, calling on Governor Katie Hobbs and state lawmakers to reconvene in a special session. "Get off your butts, get into a special session and use some of that Rainy Day Fund to solve this crisis," Mayes stated, in phrases echoed by an ABC15 interview. However, the Governor's Office noted the limitations of such an approach, stressing that Arizona could not shoulder the more than $150 million in monthly federal food assistance on its own.
Within this bitter battle, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins informed the press that her agency required $9.2 billion to cover November's benefits, an amount that the available federal contingency funds could not meet. Both Rollins and congressional Republicans have pointed to the Democrats, urging them to vote on a GOP bill that could end the shutdown and restore crucial assistance. These remarks align closely with a statement from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, provided to ABC15, who placed responsibility for the shutdown and consequent hardships squarely on Democratic shoulders.
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