Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pledged to fund only 50% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, despite having the ability to fund full benefits for the American people. USDA’s filing today comes in response to a lawsuit filed against it for illegally withholding SNAP benefits by a coalition of cities and community organizations. USDA is expected to make a similar filing in the lawsuit Attorney General Ellison co-led against it later today.
“Donald Trump is still using hunger as a political weapon against the American people,” said Attorney General Ellison. “While I am glad to see some SNAP benefits resuming as a result of our lawsuit, it is not close to enough. Trump’s USDA has the ability to provide full benefits to people struggling to make ends meet, yet they are refusing to do so because they want to use those hungry Americans as leverage. Trump is still putting billionaires first and Americans last.”