Press Release  AG Campbell Opposes Trump Administration’s Attempt To Withhold Full SNAP Benefits

Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today co-led a coalition of 26 states in filing an amicus brief opposing the Trump Administration’s request to block a court order to deliver full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to the millions of Americans relying on them. The federal government’s motion, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, comes after a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully fund November benefits by today. 

“Despite the Court’s decisive order directing the federal government to fully fund the SNAP program, the Trump Administration continues to resist its responsibility to feed hungry people,” said AG Campbell. “Every day the Administration fails to do their job and fund this essential program is another day that our residents suffer. I urge the Court to hold them accountable so we can get immediate relief to the millions of families waiting for full benefits.” 

AG Campbell and the coalition filed their brief in Rhode Island State Council of Churches, et al., v.  Rollins, et al., arguing that USDA has the money to fully fund this program and should do so immediately to prevent further harm to states. They argue USDA’s needlessly complicated calculation of reduced benefits has sown chaos in states and if they are forced to carry out this plan, it would create substantial, unlawful delays in getting benefits to recipients. The coalition also explains that the loss of SNAP benefits has a ripple effect on other state services, as increased food insecurity creates a strain on state safety net programs, and healthcare and educational institutions.  

The attorneys general argue that due to the federal government’s resistance to meeting their legal obligations to fully fund the SNAP program, American families are struggling to meet their most basic needs. These harms to states will continue unless immediate full payment of SNAP benefits is issued. AG Campbell and the coalition urge the Court to deny the federal government’s motion for a stay.  

Joining AG Campbell in filing this amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.  

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