Two Federal Judges Rule Trump Administration Must Release SNAP Funds; Oregon Among 25 States Challenging Cutoff

“Hunger cannot be used as a political weapon,” is how Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield responded to a ruling by two federal court judges instructing the Trump administration to release food aid program funds being withheld because of the government shutdown.

SNAP is One of the Most Effective Anti-Poverty Programs in the U.S.

The AG says the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the history of the U.S.

“No Oregon family should have to wonder how they’ll eat because of a government shutdown.” He says the court rulings are a reminder that obeying the law and common decency remain important.

Oregon Was One of 25 States to Challenge the Trump Administration’s Decision

Oregon was one of 25 states that challenged the right of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pause funding for SNAP. Despite the Trump administration’s announcement that it will withhold SNAP payments as of today, November 1, because of the government shutdown, two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that funds must be released for the nation’s food aid program.

In the multi-state Massachusetts lawsuit, the USDA, the agency solely responsible for SNAP, was accused of acting illegally when withdrawing supplementary food benefits. The court has given the federal government until Monday, November 3, to notify whether they will make full or partial SNAP benefits available while the legal action continues.

One in Six Oregonians Rely on SNAP

There are 757,000 SNAP recipients in Oregon, representing one in six of the state’s population. The qualify for SNAP, the annual income of a family of four cannot exceed the federal poverty line of $31,000.

Reacting to the court ruling, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek says the state will remain in a hunger emergency until the government releases SNAP funding. For that reason, she has ordered the release of $5 million to provide emergency food boxes to SNAP beneficiaries in the state.

Kotek reminded the government that for every $1 provided in SNAP benefits, between $1.50 and $1.80 is generated back into the economy, representing an estimated $1.6 billion to Oregon’s annual economy.