US states sue Trump administration over drastic cuts to food stamp program

13 states file lawsuit over new measure they say could disqualify nearly 700,000 from federal food assistance

A coalition of 13 states, New York City and Washington DC are suing the Trump administration over new restrictions for food stamp benefits for unemployed Americans – a measure they say could disqualify nearly 700,000 from federal food assistance.

The new rule, introduced in December, would eliminate states’ discretion to waive work requirements in distressed economic areas, saving the federal government $5.5bn in spending over five years.

The lawsuit is the latest pushback by Democratic states against the Trump administration, as opponents criticize the president for what they say are proposed changes that target the poor, unemployed and those in large metropolitan areas.

In the suit, filed Thursday, states say that by limiting their discretion, the new rule would actually terminate “essential food assistance for benefits recipients who live in areas with insufficient jobs”.

The coalition includes states like Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota and more areas hit hard by economic decline and job scarcity. The suit claims cuts to food stamps benefits, known as the Snap program, would burden states with new administrative and economic costs from “the negative health effects of malnutrition and instability”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/17/food-stamps-cuts-trump-us-states-sue

What is truly remarkable is that there is not one red state or "all fifty states" pushing back on what this criminal enterprise is doing in this arena..................this is a disgrace...................

November 3, 2020 cannot get here fast enough...........................