Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell responded after the Supreme Court allowed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend a lower court order that would have required full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“The Trump Administration has the money to fully fund the SNAP program but is on a mission to withhold that funding so that they can continue to use the hunger of 42 million Americans as a bargaining chip,” said AG Campbell. “I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to enable the federal government to withhold resources to feed millions of Americans – including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans as we approach Veteran’s Day and the holidays. As our lawsuit proceeds, I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure our residents have access to food.”
The Supreme Court’s decision followed actions by several lower courts. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island had ordered full funding for SNAP, but after an appeal from the federal government was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, an application was made to the Supreme Court. The high court then granted an administrative stay in favor of USDA.
Attorney General Campbell is co-leading a coalition involving 25 states and Washington D.C., challenging partial SNAP funding in another case before the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. In this case, a judge ruled that all available contingency funds must be used for SNAP and indicated other sources could be tapped if those funds were insufficient. The coalition has asked the court to require additional funding sources be used due to delays and complications caused by only partial funding.
