Attorney General Kris Mayes won a legal victory to protect Arizonans after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would freeze SNAP payments during the government shutdown. Additionally, Representative Oscar de los Santos expressed frustration of the federal decision that threatened families across Arizona.
Kris Mayes joined 25 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that cutting off SNAP benefits was illegal when emergency contingency funds remained available.
Last week, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled in favor of the states. "The court ruled the Trump administration acted illegally by trying to cut off access to food benefits even though there are emergency funds available," Mayes said after the victory.
The court ordered the USDA to use contingency funds and gave the federal government until Monday to present a plan for paying benefits to 42 million Americans nationwide.
Representative Oscar De Los Santos expressed frustration with the situation, calling it "a devastating moment" for Arizona families.
"I think it's insane that Washington Republicans have failed the people of Arizona in this way," he stated, emphasizing that many SNAP recipients are working people in low-wage jobs who simply don't earn enough to cover basic expenses.
The freeze affected vulnerable populations across the state. In Arizona, SNAP serves a diverse population. 1 in 4 Arizona children receive benefits, and 40% of the state's SNAP funding goes toward feeding them.
Additionally, 1 in 3 beneficiaries are elderly or disabled, and about 30,000 Arizona veterans use the program. Representative De Los Santos explained that many recipients work low-wage jobs that don't provide enough income to cover basic needs.
The average Arizona household using SNAP benefits would lose around $360 per month in grocery assistance. Despite the court order, benefits remained delayed because loading funds onto EBT cards typically takes a week or more.
"USDA must come up with a plan to pay benefits by Monday. We’ll keep fighting to protect Arizonans,” Mayes concluded.
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