Trump SNAP Restrictions Hit Legal Roadblock

The lawsuit was brought in March 2026 by a coalition of Democratic-led states, which argued that the USDA had imposed unlawful requirements on federal funding approved by Congress. The combined plaintiff states receive more than $74 billion annually from the USDA and claimed the new conditions could put critical programs at risk.

A USDA directive issued at the end of last year required states to certify compliance with federal “policies” in order to continue receiving funding. The lawsuit challenged those funding conditions imposed by USDA, known as the “2026 Conditions,” which became effective at the end of 2025 and applied to all USDA programs, grants, cooperative agreements, and mutual interest agreements.

According to the attorneys general who filed the lawsuit, the requirement was vague, potentially forcing states to comply with matters unrelated to agricultural or nutrition programs. Among the requirements challenged in the lawsuit were restrictions related to “gender ideology,” “immigration,” and “fair athletic opportunities” for women and girls.

The states argued that the USDA had “thrown unconstitutional and unlawful roadblocks between the programs created by Congress and the States that rely on them, threatening critical nutrition support, vital agricultural research, and the safety of our national food chain and communities.”

The states also contended that the USDA lacked the authority to impose the conditions and argued that the requirements violated the Constitution’s Spending Clause. They also alleged the policy was implemented without following required legal procedures.

The challenged conditions could affect a range of programs administered by the department, including the SNAP, school lunch programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The Plaintiffs include: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, New York, and Wisconsin. Government attorneys opposed the preliminary injunction, saying the requirements were intended to strengthen oversight of federal funds.

In a court filing, lawyers for the administration said “these new requirements would help promote the sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars, strengthen USDA’s control and oversight of obligated funds, and ensure that grant recipients comply with federal laws, regulations, and policies.”

The Trump administration has also argued that if states must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations as a condition of receiving federal funding, other federal policies should be treated similarly.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell (D) welcomed the decision in a post on Bluesky, writing: “When Trump tried to gut billions in USDA funding for states refusing to comply with his anti-immigrant agenda, we sued. The court just ruled in our favor, blocking his cuts while our case continues. These grants are a lifeline—I’ll always fight to protect food assistance for families.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) posted on X: “We won a court order protecting billions of dollars in @USDA funding as our lawsuit continues. My office will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers and stop the federal government from punishing our state for refusing to bend.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NYS Passes Bill Banning Prices Based on Personal Data

New York State (NYS) Lawmakers on 6/4/2026, Passed a Ban on Businesses Ssetting Individualized Prices for Consumers, using Their Personal Data, in the Strongest Move yet by a State against the Practice.

The New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) Signs it into Law, the One Fair Price Act, would Prohibit Companies from Setting Prices Based on Data that could be Traced to a Person or their Device, such as Browsing Purchase History, Income, and Real-Time Location.

• Discounts for Seniors, Teachers and other Specific Groups, as well as Discounts Offered through Loyalty Programs, would still be Allowed.

• Companies would also have to Disclose when they are using Prices that Fluctuate Automatically Based on an Algorithm, also called "Dynamic Pricing."

• New York would be the Third State, to Prohibit the Practice. Grace Gedye, a Policy Analyst at the Consumer Advocacy Group Consumer Reports, said the Bill Improves upon thosePpassed in Connecticut and Maryland, but Still has Flaws the Iegislature should Address in the Future.

• Hochul is likely to Face Corporate Lobbying to Weaken the Bill, Gedye said. A Spokesperson for Hochul said She is Reviewing the Bill. The gGvernor has Until the End of 2026 to Act on the Legislation.

• The Proposal would Replace a Law Hochul Signed Last Year that Requires a Disclaimer when Prices are Set by an Algorithm using Individuals' Personal Data.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Strikes Cargo Ships in Sea of Azov

Ukraine says it has Struck Five Sships carrying Illegal Cargo in the Sea of Azov, and in Coastal Waters of Russian-Occupied Territories. The Ukrainian Drone Forces Commander said the Vessels were involved in "Stealing" Ukrainian Grain, as well as Transferring Military Cargo and Fuel. The Strikes come as Russian President Vladimir Putin Prepares to Sspeak at aMmajor Economic Event in St Petersburg, and a Day after Ukraine's President Zelensky Offered Face-to-Face Talks with the Russian Leader on Ending the Wwar.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has Confirmed One of its Naval Drones Exploded off Romania's Coast on 6/5/2026. No Injuries were Rreported in the Blast. It is Unclear if the Strikes on Cargo Ships Claimed by Kyiv are Linked to the Deaths of Five Azerbaijanis, whom the Country's Foreign Ministry said were Killed in Drone Attacks on Ships in the Sea. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said in a Statement on Friday that Two Cargo Ships, the Natra and Zirkon, were Attacked by Drones Overnight in the Taganrog Bay Area of the Sea of Azov.

It did Not Specify who was Behind the Attacks and Noted that the Ships do Not belong to Azerbaijan. Russia has Blamed Ukraine for the Attacks. There was No immediate Response from Kyiv. Earlier, Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's Drone Commander, Announced that Five "illegally loitering vessels" had been Struck Overnight in the Ports of Mariupol, Berdyansk and in the Coastal Waters of what Ukraine calls the "temporarily occupied territories", parts of the Country that Russia Currently Controls.

He said the Names of the Five Ships, which included Cargo Vessels and Tankers, were Painted over and their Radars were Turned Off "with the aim of quietly stealing Ukrainian grain", as well as "transferring military cargo and fuel". Brovdi did Not mention any Deaths. In Ukraine, at least 13 People have been Killed and more than 70 others have been Injured in the Past Day, according to Local Officials. Among them are Four People who died after Russian Drones Struck a Dairy Factory outside the Ukrainian Capital, Kyiv, According to the Regional Head.

Deaths and Injuries from Russian Strikes were also Reported in Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, and Dnipro Regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Food Warehouses, a Postal Building, and a School were among the other Facilities that were Hit. On 6/4/2026, He Called for a Gace-to-Face Meeting between Himself and Vladimir Putin, in a Renewed Bid to End the War. In an Open Letter to the Russian President, Zelensky said it would be "wrong to simply wait" until the War in Europe, becomes the Focus of the U.S.'s aAtention once more, adding Peace could only come "through direct engagement between" Ukraine and Russia.

He also Called for a Full Ceasefire for the Duration of Proposed Segotiations, something Putin Ruled-Out Earlier on 6/4/2026. The Kremlin Confirmed it had Received the Letter. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian State Newspaper Izvestia, that it was likely Putin would Comment on it on Friday. The European Union, France, and the U.S. are among those that have Backed Zelensky's Calls for a Meeting.

"I think it would be great if they met. They should. Get it done," Trump (R) told Reporters on Thursday. "I want them each to make certain compromises, and I think they're going to do it." Speaking to Foreign Journalists in St Petersburg on Thursday, without Apparently having seen the Contents of the Letter, Putin said He was "certainly prepared and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine", but said Compromises needed to be Made.

He Appeared to immediately Cast Doubt on whether a Meeting or Deal could ever take place. "Whether Mr Zelensky is a legitimate representative of Ukraine, this is a question for the lawyers, for a legal analysis," He said, A Repetition of a Russian Line that there has been No Presidential Election since Zelensky's Term Expired in 5/2024. However, Elections have been Suspended in Ukraine, since Martial Law wasDdeclared after Russia's Invasion.

Putin's Longstanding Position has been that Ukraine should Withdraw from Four Regions Largely Ooccupied by Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, and give up its Efforts to Join Nato. Ukraine hasRuled-Out Ceding Territory, saying it would Embolden Russia to Invade again, as it had in 2022 when it Launched its Full-Scale War, Eight Years after Illegally Annexing Crimea.

Ceasefire Negotiations have Stalled in Recent Months, and Previous Peace Talks in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul, have Failed. Also on 6/5/2026, a Sea Drone Exploded in the Romanian Black Sea Port of Constanta. The Country's Defence Ministry said the Drone had Self-Ddetonated near an Oil Terminal without causing any Casualties, although the Authorities have said it caused Cconsiderable Damage to a Ship and Warehouses.

Adrian Teodor Picoiu, Constanta's Top Official, told G4Media that "information from the Ukrainian side" was that the Drone was Part of a Group of Five, with a Second One Exploding in Ukraine. Ukraine later Confirmed One of its Naval Drones was Involved, saying it had been Knocked Off Course by Russian Electronic Iinterference. There was No Immediate Response from Moscow to this Claim. The Remaining Three Drones were unaccounted for but Officials said there was No Further Risk. No Reason has yet been Offered for Why the Drones would be in Romanian Waters.

It was the Second Significant Security Incident this week, after a Stray Mine was Discovered on a Beach Near the village of Vama Veche, more than 50km (31 miles) North of Constanta on the Black Sea Coast. It also comes a Week after Two People were Injured, when a dDone Hit a Romanian Apartment Block, in the Eastern Ccity of Galati , close to the Border with Ukraine. Romanian Officials said they had Confirmed it was a Russian Ddrone, but Moscow said "Accusations" of its Involvement were "Unsubstantiated".

Zelensky Proposes Face-to-Face Talks in Open Letter to Putin. 'No-one feels safe now': Residents of Romanian city hit by drone share Fears.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Treasury Warns Banks of Illegal US Customers

Treasury’s Financial Crimes Arm wants Banks to Help Identify Payroll Schemes tied to People Living in the U.S. Illegally, as part of the Trump (R) Administration's Latest Measure to Clamp Down on Immigration.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINnCEN), Issued an Advisory on 6/5/2026 to Banks, that Tells Them to Watch Out for Identity Theft, Payroll Tax Fraud, and Money Laundering Schemes tied to Hiring Unauthorized Workers.

This comes after Trump (R) in May, Signed an Executive Order (EO) that Requires Bbanks to take a Ccloser Look at the Ccitizenship of their Customers.

The Oorder Directs Bbank Regulators and Government Departments to Look for Ssigns that People Without Legal Sstatus are Opening Aaccounts or Obtaining Loans or Credit Cards. However, the Order is Less Aggressive than Banks had Previously Expected, as Earlier Reports Suggested the White House was Drafting an Order that would make Collecting Customers’ Citizenship Iinformation Mandatory.

Still, without Encouraging a Blanket Debanking of Broad Segments of the Population, the Order and Latest Advisory Acts to Discourage People in the U.S. Illegally from Interacting with the Larger U.S. Financial System.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) said in a Statement that the Trump Administration "will not allow illegal aliens to abuse financial institutions to steal billions of dollars from hardworking American taxpayers.”

“Schemes to pay unlawful workers often rely upon access to the U.S. financial system, including U.S. banks," He said.

Since Banks have Never Collected any Information about their Ccustomers’ Citizenship or Iimmigration Status, there are No Reliable Public Figures on how much Risk these Customers Pose to the Financial System.

The Banking Industry had been Aggressively Lobbying for Months to Stop the White House from Issuing an EO that would have made Ccollecting Customers’ Citizenship Status Mandatory, Arguing it would be Expensive and Require Vast Amounts of Paperwork. Since the Order only Offered Guidance to the Banks instead of a Mandate, it appears the Banks were able to Win Over the White House.

The Advisory Calls on Financial Institutions to be Alert for more than a Dozen so-called '"Red Flags" that Indicate an Individual is in the U.S. Illegally.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Crypto-Backed Mortgages

A Michigan Couple became the First Borrowers to Receive a Crypto-Currency-Backed Mmortgage, through a Partnership between Better and Coinbase.

Instead of sSlling their Bitcoin and Paying Capital Gains Taxes, or Taking Out a Risky Margin Loan, they were able to use their Cryptocurrency Holdings as Collateral for a Fannie Mae backed Mortgage, while Retaining Ownership of the Assets, and Potential Future Appreciation.

Industry Leaders, View the Loan as a Major Step toward the Broader Tokenization of Financial Assets, where Real-World Assets are Represented Digitally on Blockchains.

The Mmortgage Process is Fully Digital, and Borrowers can Currently Pledge Bitcoin or USDC as Collateral without Liquidation.

USDC is a Regulated Digital Currency established in 2018, and issued by Circle1, a Regulated Financial Sservice Business that Follows Strict U.S. Laws and Standards to Protect your Money.

Every USDC in Existence is Backed by a U.S. Dollar or Cash Equivalent Asset that Circle has in its Publicly Visible Reserves, with Assurances issued Monthly by a Big Four Accounting Firm.

With a Broader Rollout Planned Later in 2026, and Strong Early Demand, Supporters Argue that the Product Signals Growing Acceptance of Digital Assets Within Mainstream Finance and the U.S. Mortgage System.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Judge Says Trump Must Restart Asylum and Immigration Processing

A Federal Judge in Rhode Island on 6/5/2026, Struck Down a Slate of Immigration Policies Enacted by the Trump (R) Administration, writing that the Measures had “placed the lives of countless individuals on hold — solely by virtue of their countries of birth.” In a Searing 135-page Opinion, Judge John J. McConnell Jr. wrote that Actions to Lock Eligible Asylum Seekers Out of the Immigration system and Deny Others Temporary Work Permits had made it Functionally Impossible for a Broad Swath of People to Remain in the Country. He said the Measures were Improperly Fueled by “Anti-Immigration Sentiments” and Contrary to Immigration Laws.

The Policies, Enacted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), included a Global Hold on Asylum Applications Filed with the Agency. USCIS also Paused Decisions on Immigration Applications Filed by People from the 39 Countries, largely in Africa and the Middle East, that are Subject to the Trump’s Travel Ban, Halting their Ability to Obtain Green Cards and other Benefits. The Sweeping Measures also touched Lawful Permanent Residents, who have Lived in the Country Legally for years, but have been Effectively Unable to be Approved for Citizenship, because Decisions on Naturalization Applications had Ground to a Halt.

The Decision was a Major Blow to the Trump Administration, in its Growing Campaign to Not Only Cut Off Illegal Immigration but Tighten Legal Immigration and Pressure Noncitizens, including many with Legal Status, to Leave the U.S. It effectively Forces the Government to Return to the Normal Adjudication Process. and Begin Resolving more than a Million Backlogged Applications. James Percival, the General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Parent Egency of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Blamed the Decision on “the left” for “sabotage dressed in legal clothing.”

“It goes like this,” He said in an emailed Statement. “(1) the admin is racist, (2) therefore a policy I don’t like is motivated by race, (3) therefore it is invalid. They have used it on virtually every Trump-era Department of Homeland Security Policy.” He did Not say How the administration Planned to Respond. But it has generally reacted Aggressively to Setbacks on its Immigration Policy in the Courts, quickly Appealing and sometimes enacting nearly Identical Substitute Measures, Prolonging Iitigation.

The Policies at Issue were Announced in 11/2025 shortly after the Authorities said an Afghan National had Shot Two National Guard Members in Washington. The Man, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has Pleaded Not Quilty. The Freeze resulted in many Immigrants inside the U.S. waiting Indefinitely for Decisions on their Applications, Disrupting their Ability to Legally Work and Leaving them to Question whether they could Remain in the Country.

“Over six months later, many of those individuals remain without work, without legal status and without any meaningful ability to plan for their futures,” Judge McConnell wrote. Judge McConnell, an Obama (D) Appointee, wrote that the Various Holds Violated the Immigration Laws Governing the Responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and that the Agency had Routinely Applied the Law Unequally Under the Policies. He Noted in Particular Strident Claims Trump made in 2025 after the Shooting in Washington, Blaming Immigrants for a Range of Social Problems, including Housing Shortages and “urban decay.”

The Judge wrote that the Burden of the Changes fell Hardest on People who had followed All the Procedures Demanded of them, rather than Immigrants who Entered the Country Illegally, whom the Trump Administration Routinely Vilifies. “The court is reminded of a line often repeated in discussions around immigration policy: If people wish to immigrate to the United States, they ought to ‘follow the law’ and ‘do things the right way,’” He wrote. “This case serves as a perfect example of immigrants doing just that.”

Democracy Forward, a Legal Non-Profit that Helped Represent the Immigration Groups and Unions behind the Lawsuit, Celebrated the Ruling. “This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: The federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” said Skye Perryman, the Organization’s President. “These unlawful policies caused enormous harm to families, workers, asylum seekers and communities across the country.”

The Lawsuit, Filed in Federal District Court for the District of Rhode Island, was brought by a Constellation of Immigration Aid Groups and Labor Unions, including the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and American Gateways, as well as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Auto Workers (UAW). The Groups Argued that Thousands of their Clients who Depended on Institutional Support to Navigate the Immigration System had seen their Applications for a Range of Services Indefinitely Stalled. They Argued that their Clients had Routinely Completed the Requisite Paperwork, Paid Fees, Submitted to Biometric Testing and Attended Immigration Interviews, Only for their Cases to Grind to a Halt.

Judge McConnell’s Order on 6/5/2026 also Struck Down a “Rre-Review” Policy under which Immigrants from Countries included on Trump’s Ttravel Ban List, who entered the Country after 2021, and had already been Approved for Benefits, were Subject to Re-Evaluation. He Rejected the Government’s Claims that Interviewing those Individuals Again or Weighing “country-specific facts and circumstances” against Them in the Process was Justified on National Security Grounds.

“The rule of law has to apply to everyone equally,” He wrote, “and, as evident here, U.S.C.I.S. has neither ‘followed the law’ nor ‘done things the right way.’” In Other Cases, judges have Found that the Trump Administration Illegally Withheld Visas from People coming from Countries on Trump’s Travel Ban List. Trump had described the Travel Ban as “a permanent pause on Third World migration” in 12/2025. Separate Lawsuits are also Pending in New York and the District of Columbia Challenging the Trump Administration’s Suspension of Visas for People from 75 Countries.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Federal Judge Temporary Halt Slush Fund

A Ffederal Judge Ordered a Temporary Halt to the Trump (R) Administration’s efforts to set up a nearly $1.8 billion Slush Fund for Trump Supporters who say they were wrongly Investigated or Prosecuted by Previous Administrations.

The so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund was Announced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) last month, as part of a Settlement between the IRS and Trump and Hhis Ffamily, after Trump Sued Hhis Own Administration for $10 billion, over the Leaking of His Tax Returns by an Employee of a Federal Contractor.

More than a Dozen Republican Senators have Privately Urged Top Trump Aides to Abandon the Fund over Concerns it could Award Millions of Dollars to Trump Supporters who Attacked the Capitol, and its Police on 1/6/2021.

Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) also Condemned the Fund.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker