10-28-2025 3:10pm

New Jersey Joins Lawsuit Against USDA Over SNAP Suspension Amid Shutdown

Chris Connors Editor

Attorney General Platkin and 24 other state leaders challenge the federal government's move to halt November food benefits, citing illegal use of funds and harm to vulnerable residents.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — October 28, 2025 — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general and three state governors in filing a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), accusing the agency of unlawfully suspending November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports more than 40 million Americans in purchasing food.

“The Trump Administration’s failure to fund SNAP during the federal government shutdown is an affront to the more than 800,000 New Jerseyans who depend on these critical benefits to access nutritious food,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I thank Attorney General Matt Platkin for taking action to hold the federal government accountable for their betrayal of America’s most vulnerable working- and middle-class families.”

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the lawsuit argues that the USDA’s decision to halt SNAP disbursements during the ongoing federal government shutdown violates both federal law and long-standing practice. The suit seeks immediate injunctive relief to resume benefits before the start of November.

According to the complaint, USDA formally suspended all November SNAP benefits as of November 1, 2025, despite the availability of $6 billion in contingency funds specifically appropriated by Congress for continued program operation during funding lapses. Plaintiffs assert that the USDA acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner and in direct contradiction of the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs federal agency conduct.

The lawsuit names USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and OMB Director Russell Vought as defendants, in addition to the United States itself.

“New Jersey families are being used as political pawns by the Trump Administration, which is illegally suspending SNAP and the critical assistance it provides to residents who are struggling with food insecurity,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This is especially devastating in the month of November, when families are gathering and demands on food banks and pantries are heaviest. We are standing up for families across our state and fighting to ensure that they continue to have access to food for their households. Our coalition is suing the Administration to stop this clear attempt at subverting the authority of Congress and the extreme harms that it would cause in New Jersey.”

Impact on New Jersey and SNAP Households

As of August 2025, New Jersey had approximately 812,966 SNAP recipients, encompassing over 436,000 households, 340,000 children, and more than 176,000 elderly residents. The state also supports nearly 5,700 authorized SNAP retailers who would be affected by the suspension in food assistance transactions.

While states are tasked with administering SNAP locally, the program is federally funded, and the USDA’s suspension directive places state agencies in a position of maintaining operations without providing actual benefits. The lawsuit contends this disrupts state budgeting, forces unnecessary expenditures, and undermines public trust in the system.

The plaintiffs further argue that the benefits are entitlement-based and mandatory, meaning eligible individuals are legally owed the assistance regardless of Congressional appropriations timelines. The lawsuit cites historical precedent showing SNAP benefits have never before been suspended during previous government shutdowns.

Broader Harm Cited in Lawsuit

According to the complaint, the suspension is expected to increase reliance on already-strained emergency food services such as food pantries and shelters. The economic ripple effect could also impact grocery stores, farmers, and food distributors, with the USDA itself previously acknowledging that each $1 of SNAP spending generates $1.54 in economic activity.

The lawsuit criticizes the USDA for selectively choosing which programs to continue funding during the shutdown. While WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and certain farm aid programs received emergency allocations, SNAP was excluded despite available resources, plaintiffs argue.

The coalition is also seeking a temporary restraining order to compel USDA to immediately release November benefits while litigation proceeds.

Joining New Jersey in the legal action are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

What’s Next

If the court grants emergency relief, SNAP benefits could resume quickly for millions of households ahead of the November distribution window. The case raises significant questions about executive authority during government shutdowns and the protection of federally mandated assistance programs.

Residents who experience interruptions in benefits or have concerns about SNAP services are encouraged to contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs or visit the agency’s website for assistance.