Attorney General Clark and Coalition Challenge Trump Administration's Demand that States 'Undo' Issuance of Full SNAP Benefits

States File Amended Temporary Restraining Order Arguing They Should Not Be Held Accountable For Following Court Order, USDA's Own Guidance

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filingfurthermotion for a temporary restraining order in her lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for more than 42 million Americans who rely on the program for food. In their motion, the coalition asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to block the Trump Administration's directive to claw back full SNAP benefits that were authorized in response to court order in Rhode Island ,contrary toguidance issued directly by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

On November 7, after the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered USDA to make full SNAP benefits available to the states, USDA informed states that it was complying with the Court's order and completing the processes necessary to make full SNAP benefits available. As a result of the Court's order and USDA's guidance, Massachusetts and other states took action to authorize the release of full SNAP benefits for their residents.

One day later, after successfully filing an emergency application with the Supreme Court to block the lower court's order, USDA abruptly demanded that states "undo" the efforts taken to administer full SNAP benefits. The federal government threatened to hold states financially liable for taking steps to process full benefits for their residents.

In their motion for a temporary restraining order, the coalition argues that USDA has once again placed impossible burdens on states and that the November 8 directive must be enjoined.

Joining Attorney General Clark in submitting the amended motion were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

A copy of the motion is available on our website.

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General, 802-828-3171