IL Among States Suing Trump Administration Over Suspended SNAP Benefits

Illinois is one of 26 states that filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, claiming the United States Department of Agriculture is unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the ongoing government shutdown.

Earlier this week, the USDA announced that nearly 2 million Illinois residents who receive SNAP benefits, or food stamps, won't get their November benefits amid the shutdown, which will enter its fifth week on Wednesday. In a notice posted on its website, the agency said it would not tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits flowing into November.

The program helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries.

"At a time of increased costs for families, the Trump administration is making a deliberate, illegal and cruel decision to cut off access to food for nearly 2 million Illinoisans," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. "I will continue to stand with other attorneys general against the president’s unlawful actions that threaten the separation of powers and the rule of law."

RELATED: IL SNAP Benefits Won't Go Out In November, Officials Confirm

The shutdown began on Oct. 1 when the new federal fiscal year began without an appropriation by Congress to fund the federal government.

On Oct. 10, the USDA sent a letter to state SNAP agencies saying that if the shutdown continued, there would be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for the approximately 42 million people across the country who rely on them.

The Illinois Application for Benefits and Eligibility said unless further action is taken from the Trump administration to reopen the government, benefits cannot be administered. State officials said they are awaiting further guidance from the federal government, and are posting updates at
snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov.

Raoul was joined in filing this lawsuit by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Also joining the complaint were the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.