Capitol News

After joining a multi-state lawsuit, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that a federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Judge Indira Talwani from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued the ruling, requiring USDA to apply these funds to SNAP benefits. However, according to USDA's response to the court, this amount will not be enough to cover full November SNAP benefits nationwide. The judge also instructed USDA to inform the court by Monday if it would transfer Section 32 funding to ensure all November benefits are paid.

“Providing food assistance to residents in need is not just a moral issue, it’s also a legal one,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I am grateful that the Court has agreed that the USDA is obligated to spend available funding to support food assistance and prevent Americans from going hungry.”

Earlier in October, USDA told states that SNAP benefits would stop as of November 1st, which would have left about 42 million Americans without food assistance. In Michigan alone, about 1.4 million people rely on SNAP, including nearly half a million children and over 38,000 veterans.

“The USDA pause on SNAP funding followed rising inflation, higher grocery bills, and soon an increase in healthcare premiums," said Attorney General Nessel. "It’s also following record cuts to our food banks, who work day and night to ensure no one in our communities goes hungry – and who will be in more demand than ever come Saturday. I am especially grateful for the over 800 food pantries across Michigan who are stepping up to help provide for our residents in such an immense time of need.”

Attorney General Nessel spent part of this week visiting several community organizations across Michigan—including LMTS Community Outreach Services in Lansing, Community Food Club in Grand Rapids, Capuchin Services Center in Detroit and Martus-Luna Food Pantry in Flint—to talk with residents and local leaders about how the funding pause could affect their communities.