Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced on Mar. 23 that she is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit challenges new conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on federal funding for various programs, which the coalition argues are unconstitutional and unlawful.
The attorneys general say these new requirements threaten essential services provided through USDA programs, including school meals and nutrition assistance, by tying funding to state adoption of policies related to immigration, diversity, equity and inclusion, and gender identity. The coalition asserts that these conditions are vague and unrelated to the core purpose of USDA funding.
“These federal grant programs are a lifeline for families across Massachusetts. I know that firsthand, as my own family relied on these programs when I was growing up,” said Campbell. “They ensure that children have access to meals at school, families can cover basic necessities, seniors can stretch limited incomes, and rural communities have critical support. These are vital investments in the health, stability, and wellbeing of our communities. Our lawsuit asks the court to block the USDA from imposing illegal conditions that would threaten funding for these programs.”
According to Campbell’s office, on December 31 last year the USDA announced broad new conditions affecting all its grants and cooperative agreements with states but did not clearly define what policies recipients must follow or how they would be enforced. The lack of guidance has left states uncertain about how key nutrition initiatives such as school lunch programs or SNAP will be impacted.
The lawsuit alleges violations of both the Spending Clause—by imposing coercive restrictions without clear notice—and the Administrative Procedure Act due to arbitrary implementation beyond statutory authority.
In Massachusetts alone during fiscal year 2025, more than $430 million in federal funds supported meal programs across approximately 2,100 schools; each day nearly 590,000 students received lunch while almost 292,000 received breakfast through these initiatives. SNAP remains Massachusetts’ largest anti-hunger program with nearly one million residents relying on it monthly as of January this year.
The University of Massachusetts also benefits from millions in annual USDA land-grant funds supporting agricultural research and education since 1862.
Campbell is joined in this legal action by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia , Washington , and Wisconsin.
