By Scout Nelson
Governor Laura Kelly has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“States cannot, and should not, take on the federal government’s responsibility to fund SNAP,” Governor Kelly said. “Cutting off SNAP payments is an unprecedented choice made by the Trump Administration and Congress that will harm millions of families across the country. I joined this lawsuit to protect Kansans, because the federal government has a legal and moral responsibility to fund this program, not to take food out of the mouths of Kansas children.”
The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, following Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill. On October 10, the USDA notified states that there would be insufficient funds to issue full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million Americans.
However, the agency still has access to billions of contingency funds specifically reserved for SNAP. Critics argue that USDA’s decision not to use these funds, while continuing to support other federal programs, is a deliberate and unlawful act.
The lawsuit claims that suspending SNAP benefits violates federal law under the Administrative Procedure Act and will have devastating impacts on millions of low-income families.
The lapse in benefits is expected to increase food insecurity, overwhelm local food pantries, and harm grocery retailers nationwide. Studies show that every $1 in SNAP funding generates $1.54 in economic activity, making the program essential to both families and local economies.
In Kansas, nearly 188,000 residents, including children, families, and seniors, depend on SNAP each month. The state’s Department for Children and Families continues to monitor the program’s impact during the shutdown.
The coalition plans to file a temporary restraining order requesting an immediate restoration of benefits. The lawsuit is joined by states including Arizona, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, and Washington, along with the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
This legal effort underscores a unified demand to restore vital food assistance and uphold federal responsibility to support vulnerable Americans.
Photo Credit:usda
Categories: Kansas, Energy, Government & Policy