Californians are beginning to see cash on their SNAP cards following major win against the Trump administration

What you need to know: Following lawsuits filed by California and others, California families are beginning to see the immediate restoration of their SNAP food benefits as a result of a major legal win.

SACRAMENTO - Following two lawsuits filed by California and other states and a coalition of others, California families are beginning to see their full SNAP benefits restored on their EBT cards. Earlier today, a court ordered the Trump administration to immediately issue 100% of funding for 5.5 million California SNAP recipients. Following the regular process for providing CalFresh benefits, benefits are now beginning to be available on recipients' cards so that families can again access the food they need.

"California will continue fighting to ensure that our families can access the food they need and deserve. The court rightly shut down the Trump administration's attempt to use the well-being of American citizens as pawns in their sick political game. As President Trump continues to create harm through self-inflicted wounds on our country, we will keep protecting Americans who are caught in the crossfire. I am pleased at the court ruling and that those food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families."

Governor Gavin Newsom

California, with more than 22 other states, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on October 28 over its unlawful refusal to fund SNAP/CalFresh benefits due to the nearly month-long federal government shutdown, despite possessing funds to support this critical program for the month of November. This has caused 5.5 million Californians to temporarily lose critical access to $1.1 billion in food assistance for the month of November. On October 31, two federal courts found the federal government is statutorily mandated to use previously appropriated SNAP contingency funds available to them during the government shutdown, where use of reserves is necessary to continue supporting this critical program protecting over 42 million Americans - including 5.5 million Californians - from going hungry. The courts also found that the USDA has $23 billion in Section 32 funds that it could use for SNAP. Today, the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island ruled that the administration must immediately restore full benefits to families, including the 5.5 million California recipients.