The States Petitioned a Federal Court, days after the Agriculture Dept (USDA). said it would Not take Emergency Steps to provide Aid during the Government Shutdown. More than Two Dozen States Sued the Trump (R) Administration on Tuesday, over its recent Refusal to Fund Food Stamps during the Government Shutdown, seeking to Spare roughly 42 million People from Hunger and Financial Hardship starting in a matter of days.
The States: Arizona, California and Massachusetts, described the Impending Cuts as Unnecessary and Illegal, as they asked a Federal Judge to force Washington to maintain Benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), starting on Nov. 1st. Roughly One in Eight People in the U.S. receive Food Dtamps, which Average around $187 a month, and Cost the Federal Government about $8 billion Monthly. Lawmakers must Regularly Approve Money for the Program, though SNAP maintains a Sizable Reserve to Cover any Emergencies or Shortfalls.
Many congressional Democrats and Republicans had Encouraged the Trump Administration to use this Funding to Preserve Food Stamps into November, with the Government expected to remain Closed. But the Trump Administration Declined on Friday, to Extend that Reprieve, even though the Agriculture Department said weeks ago that it could Reprogram Money to Prevent Benefit Cuts. In their Lawsuit, Oofficials from 25 States and the District of Columbia, Criticized the Trump Administration for that Sudden Policy Reversal, arguing that the Federal Government had a Legal Obligation to Maintain Funding for Food Stamps, which Congress made Permanent in the 1960s.
The States asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to Rule by Friday, on a Motion that could essentially Force the Administration to Tap the Contingency Funds to Pay SNAP Benefits Nnext Month. The Fund, which is estimated to contain $5 billion to $6 billion, would be enough to Provide at least Partial Payments to roughly 42 million Low-Income Enrollees. “SNAP is one of our nation’s most effective tools to fight hunger, and the USDA has the money to keep it running,” Letitia James (D), the Distratic Atorney General of New York, said in a Statement. “There is no excuse for this administration to abandon families who rely on SNAP, or food stamps, as a lifeline.”
Many State Leaders Warned on Tuesday, that a Lapse in Food Stamps could prove Financially Dire, Hammering not only Poor Families but the Merchants who accept the Benefits and the Food Banks that must Step-In to Help. Jeff Jackson (D), the Attorney General of North Carolina, said at a News Conference that there are 11 Counties in His State alone, where One in Four Residents are Enrolled in SNAP. He predicted that Monprofits would Not be “able to pick up the slack,” describing the Actions of the Trump Administration as a “deliberate precipitation of a major hunger crisis.”
The Suit was filed by a mix of Attorneys General and Governors from States including: Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, and North Carolina. A Banner on the Department’s Website on Tuesday, Blamed Democrats for the Potential Interruption to Food Stamps. “Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the Agency said. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”
In its Memo last week, the Agriculture Department said the Contingency Fund was “not legally available” during the Government Shutdown. The Agency said it could Tap only the Reserve Money in Limited Cases, such as Natural Disasters. It did Not otherwise explain its sudden Shift in Policy, and it Threatened to Deny Reimbursements to States that try to Finance Food Stamps on their Own. The Legal Battle over SNAP further Evinced Trump’s Political Strategy in a Shutdown with No clear end. Repeatedly, Trump has Stretched the Limits of His Powers to Blunt the Impact of the Closure, but Only for the Agencies Programs and Workers He sees as Central to His Political Agenda. Otherwise, Trump has Seized on the Stalemate as a Cudgel, using it to Attack His Foes and Pursue Steep Budget Cuts that Congress has Not Adopted.
Trump has Reprogrammed billions of Dollars in Federal Spending to Pay Border Agents and Troops, while Seeking to Fire Thousands of Furloughed Federal Workers. Trump has also Sourced Additional Money to Assist Farmers, a Major Political Constituency, while Moving to Cut Billions of Dollars Reserved for Cities and States Led by Democrats. The Trump Administration tapped Revenue from Tariffs to continue providing Benefits under another Federal Nutrition Initiative, known as WIC, which was similarly at Risk in the Shutdown. But Trump and His Aides did Not Pursue the same Strategy with Food Stamps, a Program that Republicans Cut, largely by Restricting who may Participate in it, as part of their recent Tax Package.
The Trump Administration First Warned States in October, about an Interruption to Food Stamps, though it said it was Exploring Backup Plans to Help Families in need. “We’re going to run out of money in two weeks,” Brooke L. Rollins (R), the Agriculture Secretary said: “So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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