In an ongoing saga that sees the Trump administration and state governments at odds over SNAP benefits, New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to halt federal attempts of retracting food assistance. According to a statement obtained by New York State Attorney's General Office, the court order came as a response to a late-night directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which called for states to retract already-distributed November SNAP benefits, deeming them "unauthorized."
After the USDA initially confirmed the imminent release of full funding for November benefits, several states, including New York, commenced the issuance of these benefits. Receiving startling late-night communication from the USDA on November 8 demanded states to reel back these steps had caused not just confusion but potentially jeopardized the sustenance of countless households. Attorney General James sharply criticized the move, highlighting that, "families can keep the food assistance they need," while states should not be penalized for issuing benefits as directed by earlier USDA guidance, as per the New York State Attorney's General Office.
The federal government found itself facing a lawsuit on October 28, when James and other attorneys general from across the nation sought to ensure the provision of SNAP benefits amid the federal standoff. As a result of this legal challenge, a federal court ruled that the USDA must use its contingency funds to at least partially sustain the program. The decision by the District Court for the District of Massachusetts partly granting the coalition's request reaffirms the state's decision to proceed with the issuance of benefits prior to the USDA's subsequent and conflicting directives.
As reported by New York residents, on November 9, SNAP benefits started to reflect on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Attorney General James reassured that these benefits are legitimate and reminded retailers they are legally bound to accept them. "Any New Yorker who is wrongfully denied the ability to use their EBT card should remind the retailer of their right to do so and immediately report the incident to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG)," she stated on the New York State Attorney's General Office.
Adding to the chorus of frustration, the coalition highlighted in their filed motion the 'whipsaw approach' from the USDA that not only caused operational mayhem for state agencies but also sowed distress among beneficiaries. The coalition alleged that the agency's flip-flopping violated the Administrative Procedure Act and that they lacked legal grounds to enforce clawbacks or to penalize states following court orders.
The unity among the states became evident as attorneys general from a diverse array of states, alongside governors from Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, stood in alliance with Attorney General James to confront the USDA's erratic policy enforcement. A hearing set for later today promises to delve deeper into the full motion against the USDA's recent memo.
