New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is among 24 state attorneys general taking the Trump administration to court over its plans to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November if the government shutdown continues.
A lawsuit, which is also joined by the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and White House Office of Management and Budget.
“More than 450,000 New Mexicans rely on SNAP to feed their families, and I will not stand by and watch our people go hungry when Congress has already appropriated billions of dollars in emergency funding to keep food on their tables. At this time, when too many are struggling with rising costs, we should be expanding access to food assistance, not undermining it,” Torrez said in a press release.
The lawsuit asks the court to require the USDA to make SNAP payments to states in November and prevent the USDA from withholding that assistance. Any suspension of benefits, the suit claims, will do irreparable harm to SNAP recipients, vendors who accept SNAP for food purchases, and entities such as food banks and schools.
Plaintiffs state that the USDA has a $6 billion contingency fund that could cover at least some of those payments during a funding lapse, and has used its authority to keep other programs afloat.
The USDA claimed last week in a memo that those funds are insufficient to cover the cost of SNAP benefits and are reserved for food assistance in emergencies such as natural disasters.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1,” a message posted on the USDA website stated.
So ironic. Coming from a state that politicians are part of the reason the government is shutdown. I agree the Snap benefits need to continue to those that actually qualify. Maybe if all the money given to the illegals by these Democrat politicians had not authorized these payments to all the illegals the past democrat controlled administration there would be enough money
Dear New Mexico Neighbors,
This lawsuit by AG Raul Torrez and others is a heartbreaking symptom of Washington’s dysfunction, but let’s be clear: the real roadblock here is our own Democratic senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, who are holding up approval of a simple continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded and SNAP benefits flowing without interruption. With Democrats controlling the White House, Senate, and House, all power in D.C. rests squarely in their hands—they have no excuses for letting this drag on.
The longer we go without a CR, the greater the onus falls on Democrats to explain why families like the 450,000 New Mexicans relying on SNAP are being put at risk. President Trump’s team has made it clear they’re ready to sign a clean CR today, but Senate Democrats are playing politics with people’s groceries.
Enough is enough. Take two minutes right now: Write your senators at senatorheinrich.senate.gov/contact and lujan.senate.gov/contact (or call 202-224-5521 for Heinrich and 202-224-6621 for Luján). Tell them: Pass the CR immediately to protect New Mexico families from hunger. Our kids can’t wait for partisan games.
Stand up for our state—act today.
#PassTheCR #NewMexicoStrong
correction: Democrats blocking the senate. The Republicans control the WH, Senate and House
Why waste NM state’s money on suing the President, if there is to be a law suit, sue Congress for the shut down, they are the one’s still getting paid to do nothing.
This is fantastic news! I’m so very proud of my state for taking care of our people and having the spine to stand up to White House bully. Thank you, AG Torrez and Governor Lujan Grisham.