Early this morning, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a stay on a directive from the Trump Administration that required states to reverse the release of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November. The court’s decision was made in response to a motion for a Temporary Restraining Order filed late last night by a coalition of 23 attorneys general and three governors, co-led by Attorney General Ellison.
The coalition’s motion asked the federal court to block the Trump Administration’s November 8 order, which sought to recover SNAP benefits that had been authorized following an earlier court order in Rhode Island. The directive also contradicted guidance previously issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In its ruling, the court found “good cause” for granting the stay and scheduled a hearing on the matter for 2:30 pm Central Time today.
This action is part of an ongoing lawsuit led by Attorney General Ellison and other state officials against the Trump Administration over its suspension of SNAP benefits, which affects more than 42 million Americans who depend on these funds for food assistance.
“While reports pile up from every part of the country about the hunger and misery that Donald Trump is forcing 42 million Americans into, this weekend Trump went golfing in Florida. We are seeing that there are no depths to which Trump will not stoop to enrich billionaires and make sure hungry Americans starve — while rubbing their faces in it,” Attorney General Ellison said. “I’m grateful the court has granted our motion to stay USDA’s outrageous directive. This coalition and I will keep fighting this administration’s cruelty and lawlessness with every tool we have.”
On November 7, after a federal district court in Rhode Island ordered USDA to provide full SNAP benefits to states, USDA informed states it would comply with this order. Minnesota and other states then took steps to authorize full SNAP benefits for their residents based on this guidance.
However, one day later—after obtaining an emergency application from the Supreme Court—the USDA instructed states to reverse those actions and threatened financial penalties if they did not comply.
Attorney General Ellison’s latest filing argued that these shifting directives placed undue burdens on state governments. The court agreed early this morning by issuing its stay.
According to data provided by state officials, about 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP each month; among them are approximately 180,000 children, 67,000 seniors, and 52,000 people with disabilities. On average, recipients receive $5.46 per day for food support.
The group supporting Attorney General Ellison’s effort includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island,Vermont,Washingon,and Wisconsin as well as governors from Kansas,Kentucky,and Pennsylvania.
