13 states, NYC sue Trump over plan for food stamps
HARRISBURG — New York City and 13 state attorneys general, including Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, have filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump to get an injunction against the administration's plan to eliminate food assistance to 700,000 people across the United States.
A news release from Shapiro's office said the suit challenges a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would limit states' ability to extend benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beyond a three-month period for certain adults.
“The rule punishes people in both rural and urban communities just because there aren't always enough jobs,” Shapiro said. “People already suffer when jobs disappear — needlessly taking away access to food only punishes them further.”
Shapiro called the USDA's action “cruel and illegal.”
California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, in addition to New York City, are the other parties bringing the lawsuit.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and a motion for a preliminary injunction asks that the program not go into effect on April 1 as planned.
