Attorney General Schwalb Sues Federal Government to Protect SNAP Benefits for DC Residents

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps more than 40 million Americans buy food. USDA and Secretary Rollins have incorrectly claimed that they must completely suspend SNAP benefits for the month of November as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, despite having access to billions of dollars in contingency funds for these types of emergencies.

"SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in DC, and if these cuts are allowed to go through, tens of thousands of District children, seniors, and families will be unable to afford food," said Attorney General Schwalb. "The adverse downstream impacts on public health, education, and public safety will be immediate, catastrophic, and irreparable. Additionally, the economic impact on our local business community will be severe as hundreds of SNAP retailers, including many that operate in food deserts, will lose a vital revenue stream. If these stores are forced to close, even non-SNAP recipients will lose access to critical sources of food."

DISTRICT IMPACT

In FY2025, an average of 141,000 DC residents received SNAP benefits each month, including 47,000 District children and 24,000 elderly individuals. The suspension of SNAP benefits will immediately cause DC recipients to struggle to afford food - leading to devastating consequences for the public health of District residents.

The loss of SNAP benefits will also have significant negative impacts on DC's local business community and economy. DC has 420 SNAP retailers, over 320 of which are smaller markets and "mom and pop" stores, many of which are located in food deserts and serve as one of the only access points to food for community members. Many of these stores are already operating on thin margins, and eliminating the SNAP revenue stream could threaten to put them out of business.

LAWSUIT BACKGROUND

On October 1, 2025, the new federal fiscal year began without an appropriation by Congress to fund the federal government, causing a "government shutdown." On October 10, USDA sent a letter to state SNAP agencies saying that if the shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for the approximately 42 million individuals across the country that rely on them.

Despite USDA's claim of insufficient funds, the agency has access to billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for this very purpose. Furthermore, USDA has funded other programs with emergency funds during this shutdown, but has refused to fund SNAP, leaving millions of Americans without the assistance they need to buy food.

The lapse in benefits will have dire consequences for the health and well-being of thousands of District residents and millions across the country, who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families. This lapse will also put unnecessary strain on state and local governments and community organizations, as families increasingly rely on emergency services and local food pantries that are already struggling to fill a growing nutrition gap. It will affect our school systems and college and university communities, where food insecurity will stand in the way of educating our students. Suspending SNAP benefits will also harm the hundreds of thousands of grocers and merchants that accept SNAP payment for food purchases across the country. USDA has estimated that in a slowing economy, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity. 

The lawsuit is available here.

Joining AG Schwalb in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have also joined. The coalition will also be filing a temporary restraining order later today asking the court to immediately direct USDA to pay benefits to the extent of available funds.

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