U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speaks with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a news conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 15. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
States warned in the lawsuit Tuesday that halting the SNAP payments, even in the near-term, threatens disproportionate harm for the roughly 42 million Americans that currently receive SNAP aid beginning on Nov. 1, when the food assistance is slated to expire.
"Shutting off SNAP benefits will cause deterioration of public health and well-being," state leaders said in the lawsuit.
"Ultimately, states will bear costs associated with many of these harms," they added. "The loss of SNAP benefits leads to food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, which are associated with numerous negative health outcomes in children, such as poor concentration, decreased cognitive function, fatigue, depression, and behavioral problems."
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The government shutdown is expected to cost taxpayers $400 million a day to pay furloughed federal employees, according to Congressional Budget Office data. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The USDA, for its part, has not yet shared details on the policy decision or decision not to funnel the contingency funds to SNAP beneficiaries.
A note on its website states simply that, "[T]he well has run dry."
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"At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01," the agency said.
Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI and other national news. She previously covered national politics at the Washington Examiner and The Washington Post, with additional bylines in Politico Magazine, the Colorado Gazette and others. You can send tips to Breanne at Breanne.Deppisch@fox.com, or follow her on X at @breanne_dep.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/states-sue-trump-admin-over-billions-looming-cuts-snap-food-stamps