What DC-area leaders are saying about judges’ order to continue SNAP payments during shutdown

Greater part D C -area leaders agree with two federal judges rulings Friday ordering President Donald Trump s administration to continue paying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Campaign known as SNAP using emergency reserve funds during the administration shutdown State attorneys general and governors from states as well as D C sued the Trump administration as the Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to SNAP starting on Monday The administration argued that the department could no longer keep funding the effort due to the shutdown In both cases the federal establishment must provide a plan on how the activity will be funded by Monday The administration did not say whether it would appeal to the rulings Prior to the judge s ruling Maryland and Virginia declared states of exigency and D C stated a backup plan to keep supporting its SNAP recipients Maryland Following the ruling Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown explained the court agreed that the Department of Agriculture cannot lawfully cut off Marylanders SNAP benefits Brown joined the lawsuit and noted he plans to continue fighting in court to force the federal regime to fund SNAP benefits for families that rely on it to put food on the table Maryland Gov Wes Moore stated he was encouraged by the ruling and called for the Department of Agriculture to release the crisis funds On Thursday Moore declared a state of urgency to keep food banks operating across the state We have long announced The Trump administration must follow the law release contingency funding for SNAP and lead congressional Republicans in ending the federal cabinet shutdown Moore stated in a declaration For millions of Americans including Marylanders SNAP is a lifeline Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman stated she is deeply relieved by the ruling and called it a mastery for the more than residents who rely on the plan Had the suspension of SNAP funding continued Lierman stated the ripple effects could have harmed the state s financial market SNAP is a critical safety net and an significant economic stabilizer Lierman mentioned Every dollar in SNAP benefits circulates hastily through our communities supporting Maryland s grocers farmers and retailers and generating measurable advance in our state GDP Related stories Montgomery Co food bank prepares to fill void if SNAP benefits end SNAP has provided grocery help for -plus years here s how it works Shutdown double whammy SNAP food benefits ending and Md federal workers go unpaid DC In a post on X D C Attorney General Brian Schwalb revealed the Department of Agriculture acted unlawfully in suspending SNAP payments for November Families should not go hungry when there are billions in contingency funds for this very purpose Schwalb declared We will keep fighting because every meal matters In the interim Schwalb proven that D C will follow its backup plan and use local funds to ensure residents on SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Operation for Women Infants and Children known as WIC receive their November benefits The city will use million from its contingency cash reserve for SNAP and million for WIC including direct benefits and assistance services D C Mayor Muriel Bowser previously stated about households in D C receive SNAP and that more than residents benefit from WIC Virginia After announcing a state of urgency Virginia launched the Emergency Nutrition Assistance initiative to help fill the funding gap for its SNAP recipients Under the plan people receiving SNAP will automatically get payments added to their existing EBT cards Instead of receiving their full monthly benefits at once recipients will get smaller payments every week in November Attorney General Jason Miyares informed WTOP s Nick Iannelli that Virginia s budget surplus allows the state to use its funds to protect its residents SNAP benefits You never know what s going to happen in a judge s ruling Miyares noted That s exactly why we have these reserve funds When you have emergencies like this you never know how a judge is going to rule WTOP s Nick Iannelli Mike Murrillo and The Associated Press contributed to this review Source