29 Oct California Sues Federal Government for Halting SNAP Benefits

(Aditi Praveen Kariyanahalli / Bay City News)

By Alise Maripuu
Bay City News

In California’s 45th lawsuit against the federal government, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom are challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cancellation of next month’s food benefits for millions of Americans.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a national program that provides monthly food benefits for low-income households. In California, 5.5 million residents use SNAP to help pay for their groceries through CalFresh, the state’s version of SNAP, according to Bonta.

However, amid the current federal government shutdown, the USDA under President Donald Trump announced last week that it would not roll out food stamps for the month of November. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has said on social media that the department no longer has the funding to support SNAP payments.

“In abruptly suspending SNAP, Trump and Rollins have broken the law,” Bonta said in a briefing Tuesday alongside Newsom. “They have forced states to scramble to try and clean up the federal government’s mess, and worst of all, they’ve left 41 million Americans unsure of where their next meal will come from.”

In the joint lawsuit, California is among 24 states that say that the USDA is withholding billions in contingency funding that could be used to cover a portion of SNAP payments for November.

“This is what the contingency funds are for, to be spent in times like this,” Bonta said. “Based on two congressional appropriations, we believe that USDA has up to $6 billion in contingency funds, and possibly more to fund SNAP.”

Instead of tapping into its supplemental reserves, USDA has said that the extra funding it has is designated solely for food aid during natural disasters.

The department has also blamed Democrats and the government shutdown.

“The well has run dry,” USDA said in an announcement on its website. “We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”

The lawsuit argues that the USDA cannot suspend SNAP benefits without first spending the money it has available.

Newsom blasted Trump during the briefing, calling USDA’s decision “cruel.”

“These guys need to stop the ‘BS’ in Washington, D.C.,” Newsom said. “I find it also interesting that the Senate is going to be having lunch today, lunch to discuss cuts to food programs. Hope they enjoy their lunch.”

The governor also mentioned how the timing of SNAP’s suspension comes amid the upcoming holiday season when food banks tend to get busier.

“This is when food banks are already busy,” Newsom said. “This is when there’s already a lot of pressure and anxiety.”

Last week, California fast-tracked the distribution of $80 million to 50 food banks across the state to help mitigate funding delays due to the government shutdown. Newsom has also deployed the National Guard and hundreds of volunteers to provide aid at food banks if requested.

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