By Harshita Prakash
Legal Professional at Malik Law PLLC
In a historic legal move, 24 states and the District of Columbia led by Massachusetts, California, and Washington—have filed a joint complaint against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), accusing them of unlawfully suspending SNAP benefits for November 2025. The lawsuit, filed in the District of Massachusetts federal court, claims that the USDA’s decision to halt food assistance violates both the Administrative Procedure Act and long-standing Congressional intent that SNAP continue uninterrupted, even during federal shutdowns.
What the Complaint Says
The states argue that the USDA has the funds including a $6 billion contingency reserve that could legally keep SNAP running, yet chose not to use them. They allege this suspension is “arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law,” pointing to USDA’s own prior statements that such contingency funds were meant to cover exactly this type of lapse. The complaint also cites the severe impact on 42 million Americans, including children, veterans, and low-income families, who now face delayed or missing benefits just before the holiday season. States like Washington, Oregon, and California note that their local food banks are already bracing for a surge in demand as SNAP cards go empty
At its core, this lawsuit is about whether the federal government can lawfully freeze an entitlement program that Congress has defined as a mandatory benefit. SNAP is not discretionary aid it’s an entitlement owed to qualifying households. A win for the states could reaffirm that vital food programs cannot be treated as political collateral during budget impasses.
Washington state is suing the Trump Administration for illegally suspending SNAP benefits.
Political games from President Trump and Congressional Republicans are harming the most vulnerable Washingtonians.
We’re fighting to protect the people of our state.
— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) October 28, 2025