HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania, joining 24 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block the federal government's planned suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is set to impact over 2 million Pennsylvanians.
The legal action comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) declaration that SNAP benefits would run dry on November 1 due to the ongoing federal shutdown.
The coalition of states argues the federal government is legally required to keep the essential food assistance program running. The lawsuit specifically points to a $6 billion contingency fund that it contends the government must use to fund the program, asserting that this amount would cover the majority of SNAP's November expenses nationwide.
"The agency cannot simply suspend all benefits indefinitely, while refusing to spend funds from available appropriations for SNAP benefits for eligible households," the lawsuit states. The legal challenge seeks a court order to compel the federal government to release the available funds and ensure that millions of vulnerable households continue to receive their critical food assistance.