A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from imposing financial penalties on states over their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations. The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, stops efforts to fine states millions of dollars for allegedly missing a required grace period to implement new SNAP guidance.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released a statement following the court’s decision: “I never thought I would have to go to court to stop an American president from attacking food benefits for hungry families. However, when Donald Trump unlawfully tried to penalize us unless our state cut off food support for Minnesota residents, I had no choice but to take the president to court. Fortunately, a judge just blocked Trump’s unlawful actions for the time being. I’m pleased to have won this ruling, but I am deeply saddened at the spirit of cruelty in the White House that made all this necessary in the first place.”
On November 26, Ellison joined 21 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration after it sought to restrict SNAP benefits for tens of thousands of lawful permanent residents. On December 10, federal officials reversed course and clarified that lawful permanent residents—including former refugees and asylees—remain eligible for SNAP assistance. Despite this reversal, states were still threatened with large fines based on claims they failed to meet implementation deadlines set before final guidance was issued.
The lawsuit was led by attorneys general from New York and Oregon and included representatives from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
The court’s decision ensures that state SNAP programs can continue operating without fear of immediate financial penalties while legal proceedings continue.
