Special to IFN
RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Management and Budget for refusing to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown and withholding food assistance for 1.4 million North Carolinians.
This would be the first time ever that SNAP benefits have been delayed, even though USDA has at least $6 billion in contingency funds from Congress to use in emergencies like this one.
“Nearly 600,000 children in our state could be without food in a few days because USDA is playing an illegal game of shutdown politics,” Jackson said. “They have emergency money to help feed children during this shutdown, and they’re refusing to spend it. I warned them last week that I would take them to court if they tried to hurt our kids, and today that’s what we’re doing.”
On the eve of the shutdown on September 30, USDA assured states that contingency funds could be used to continue funding the SNAP program. But on October 24, USDA reversed course and sent a memo to the states ordering them to suspend all November SNAP payments and any later payments.
USDA claims that this is because of the government shutdown. Yet, since the shutdown began, the same agency has used its authority to give out billions for other programs and move around funds to help fund nutritional benefits for infants and pregnant women.
SNAP monthly payments are about $175 per North Carolinian to help cover basic food and nutrition needs.
Families who are already facing economic pressures because of the shutdown have been relying on food banks for support. Food banks are already straining to meet the demand after USDA cut $500 million nationwide in food deliveries in March.
The lawsuit alleges that the agency is violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the SNAP Act. Jackson is asking the court to require USDA to pay out SNAP benefits and cancel the USDA’s previous unlawful orders to the states. Jackson is also asking the court to immediately turn benefits back on.
Gov. Josh Stein said the lawsuit is warranted.
“The federal government is denying access to food for more than 1.4 million North Carolinians, including children, veterans, and people with disabilities,” Stein said. “The USDA must take immediate action to keep families from going hungry as it is required to do by law, and I thank Attorney General Jackson for standing up to secure these critical resources.”
Attorney General Jackson is filing this lawsuit alongside the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have also joined.
Open the government, Democrats…
Last time I checked, Republicans run every branch of the federal government. Why aren’t THEY “opening the government?” Sounds like weak and ineffectual leadership from the GOP to me.
Sounds like someone doesn’t understand how the Senate works, it takes 60 votes because of the filibuster rule. The socialist democrats have so much hatred for the President that they don’t care about the people of the US. The Republicans could change Senate rules but that would not be good for the country. So bottom line is the democrats are the ones not opening the government, doesn’t matter how much selling the Republican leadership does, it won’t overcome the democrat hatred for the President. And that is a shame that democrat personal feelings of hate are costing Americans.
FYI: the Democrats are still in DC, ready and waiting for the Republicans to return from their VACATION so this issue can be resolved. The Republicans like to brag that they control everything now, but they won’t step up to get the business of the government done. Get your facts straight, before accusing the ones who haven’t been on VACATION.
Republicans, and I’m not one of them, did their job. They passed Biden’s CR. The same CR all these D Senators voted for 13 times before now. There’s nothing more for R to do except hold Senate votes, and all have failed because of Democrat vetoes. Every R has voted to open the government. Most Democrats, even admitting it will cause some pain like not feeding people, have stated this is their only option to fight the huge Bill passed by the House and Senate. The wishes Trump campaigned on and was elected for by the majority of the American people. Most popular votes and all swing states. Does majority not rule for Democrats when it isn’t in their favor? Seems so as a casual observer. I see political violence, hate mongering, threats, and intimidation by far leftists. The most heartbreaking to me is that so many of these are funded by rich leftist groups. Some of these actions are being committed by politicians KNOWING they can cause someone harm. We should never tolerate any form of this type of rhetoric or behavior by anyone with power.
The fact that a sitting Governor in PA and his family were almost burned alive by a hater because of their faith is a serious wake up call for all of us.
Don’t believe anything the media tells you, just watch and research the issue yourself from all sources. Trust me, your eyes will be opened to the tactics of both major political parties and the tactics used to create division and anger between Americans.
We are all brothers and sisters of this country. Our differences make us the greatest country, despite despicable history, such as slavery, have happened.
Blessings…
Dear democrat, quit drinking the kool aid. Republicans done their job, democrats are obstructing. I don’t want my tax dollars going to health care for illegals. Law breakers should not be rewarded